The short story "Paul’s Case" by Willa Cather illustrates the problems of a young man, named Paul, growing up and taking on the responsibility of finding out who he is, and what he wants from life. The story contains many symbols, which add meaning to the story. Some of the major symbols present in "Paul’s Case" are: the flowers, Cordelia street, the Carnegie Hall, and Paul’s house.
The flowers play an integral role in the story. They symbolize Paul throughout the story. For instance, at the beginning of the story, Paul is wearing a bright red carnation in his lapel. This declares Paul’s independence from the other students, and shows that Paul is different than