"The lesbian subject, variously defined, appears in a number of coded, indirect, and subversive as well as literal ways. Instead of a recognizable genre, lesbian literary narrative, is in reality, a disputed form, dependent on various interpretive strategies." Marilyn Farwell offers a detailed response to the complicated genre of lesbian literature. Farwell recognizes the need to "read against the grain" in order to establish the encoded meanings and forms in lesbian writing that are not clearly placed across a fictional tale. It is with this type of reading perhaps that a lesbian narrative space is created by Cather in "My Antonia." Cather illustrates a story of Jim Burden and his relationship with Antonia within a backdrop of events that can be appropriated as forming a lesbian narrative space. Cather's characterisation, with effective use of binary oppositions, a male narrative voice and critique of conventional gender/norms and roles allows this lesbian narrative space to be drawn out from the main text. .
Jim's killing of the snake can perhaps be viewed as a way to confuse boundaries. The snake can represent a phallic symbol, which suggests that Jim's decision to kill it emphasises a rejection of masculinity and the heterosexual norm. The sexual imagery attached to the description of the snake also highlights its place as a phallic symbol within the novel, "His abdominal muscularity, his loathsome, fluid motion, somehow made me sick." Jim's revolution towards the snake further accentuates how the idea of the male is treated within the novel, opening up a space for a lesbian narrative to be formed. "Jim strikes violently and with revulsion, recognizing even then an irrational hatred stronger than the impulse for protection." Here, Blanch H. Gelfat recognizes Jim's lack of protective instincts and points out the sexual connotations attached to Jim's reaction to the snake.
Willa Cather doesn't portray the ideals of helpless, dependent women whose only purposes were to produce children. Willa Cather gave the women of My Antonia untraditional roles. ... Throughout My Antonia, much of what we find out about the grandmother is evident in her kitchen. ... Although the women of My Antonia did follow the typical role...
My Antonia, a novel written by Willa Cather, is about the historical period during which the American Frontier closed. ... By examining the novel My Antonia, by Willa Cather, one can see that the novel feeds off of immigration and would not be the same if the protagonist, Antonia Shimerda, were not an immigrant. ... Willa Cather does a good job getting the point across that there is nothing Jim can do to change what is going to happen to him or to anyone. ... His last words were, "Te-e-ach, te-e-ach my Antonia"(Cather). ... In the beginning of the novel, they decide to name it My Antonia...
Willa Cather I.) ... Characteristics such as that are what my author Willa Cather focused on when describing the prairie in her books. ... The purpose of my presentation is to inform you about the life, literary achievements, and importance of Willa Cather. ... Willa Cather Paper A.) ... Willa Cather died April 24, 1947. ...
Traits of feminist masculinity have never been so exemplified in women as they are in Willa Cather's masterpiece, "My Antonia". ... In her portrayal of a pioneer woman, Cather blurs the gender lines and thus promotes a sense of equality between men and women. ... Cathers weaves her crafty persuasion for the cause of female equality throughout her book. ... A method Cather uses to elevate Antonia is to tell her story through the eyes of Jim Burden, a man deeply in love with her, but as a strange twist, is seen as a younger and more inferior tag along. ... The book, "My Antonia" is ...
In the novel My Antonia by Willa Cather, the symbolism illustrates strength of spirit. ... Another example can be found within the character of Antonia Shimmerda. ... To illustrate, Jim Burden finds strength within Antonia's eyes. ... Another example is found through the character of Antonia. ... The symbolism in the novel My Antonia illustrates strength of spirit that one is able to find from within oneself, through others, and through one's connection with the land. ...
Independent Women My Antonia is about how a very independent woman of the 1900s influenced the life of Jim Burden. In this book, by Willa Cather, there are several self-sufficient women in the story line. ... Antonia Shimerda became independent at an early age due to her father committing suicide. ... (Cather 204). ... (Cather 186). ...
In Willa Cather's novel, My Antonia, Cather creates several groups with distinct characteristics and values in Black Hawk, Nebraska- the town in which most of the story takes place. ... The primary form of intolerance depicted throughout My Antonia can be best described as classism or elitism- discrimination based on a person's position on the social ladder. ... Earlier in the story, Antonia's father, Mr. ... Jim Burden, Antonia's neighbor and narrator of the story, is at odds with her brother, Ambrosch's, decision to allow Antonia to work in the field. ... However, An...
The Novel My Antonia, is a story of a young Bohemain immigrant girl, Antonia Shimerda, on the central plains in Black Hawk, Nebraska. ... This is where he meets Antonia. This novel, written by Willa Cather, is a story of Jim's experiences and memories relating to Antonia. Through Antonia Shimerda, and other characters throughout the novel, My Antonia, including Lea Lingard, Jim's Grandparents and Mrs. ... Josiah and Emmaline Burden, Jim's grandparents are key characters in the novel, My Antonia. ...
In Willa Cather's My Antonia, Tiny Soderball showed the most in any of the other characters as being a very ambitious person. ... In Willa Cather's My Antonia, Tiny Soderball a Swedish immigrant who was once a "Hired Girl" gained success through ambition, determination and persistence. ...
