Mr. Shimerda, Antonia’s father, is the most tragic character in Cather’s story and his life is short-lived on the prairie. But his legacy lives on in his daughter Antonia, her children, and in his influence on Jim Burden. His earlier years in Europe reveal a sensitive, artistic, and respected man, […]
Read more Character Analysis Mr. ShimerdaCharacter Analysis Anton Cuzak
Anton Jelinek’s cousin, Anton Cuzak, enters the novel in the last book. When Jim returns to Black Hawk and meets Antonia’s family, he also meets her husband, Anton Cuzak. Jim was aware she had married because she had signed an earlier letter to Jim “Antonia Cuzak.” Before meeting Anton, Jim […]
Read more Character Analysis Anton CuzakCharacter Analysis Jim Burden
Whereas Antonia represents the pioneer who builds an abundant, promising future from a wasteland, Jim Burden represents the established settlers who have grown complacent, superior, and rigid in their thinking. To Antonia, the road to success in life has many possible branches; to Jim and other Black Hawk citizens, there […]
Read more Character Analysis Jim BurdenCharacter Analysis Antonia Shimerda Cuzak
Antonia has a resilient inner strength that drives her to succeed and helps her survive adversity. In this way, like the plow against the sun, she symbolizes the invincible pioneer spirit. From the time of her arrival on the prairie, she believes that a person who works hard will become […]
Read more Character Analysis Antonia Shimerda CuzakSummary and Analysis Book V: Cuzak’s Boys: Chapters I-III
Summary Twenty years pass. Jim has had little contact with Antonia. While traveling through Europe, he sent her pictures from Bohemia, and she wrote and thanked him, telling him the names and ages of her children. He heard from Tiny that Antonia’s husband “was not a man of much force, […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Book V: Cuzak’s Boys: Chapters I-IIISummary and Analysis Book IV: The Pioneer Woman’s Story: Chapters I-IV
Summary It takes Jim two years to finish his pre-law studies at Harvard. During a brief visit back to Black Hawk, he finds the town buzzing with gossip. Antonia went to Denver with Larry Donovan, who jilted her, and she returned home unmarried and pregnant with his child. Now back […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Book IV: The Pioneer Woman’s Story: Chapters I-IVSummary and Analysis Book III: Lena Lingard: Chapters I-IV
Summary Jim studies diligently during his freshman year at college and stays in Lincoln through the following summer. Gaston Cleric, a Latin teacher, becomes his mentor. Cleric awakens Jim’s love for the classics. Although he admires Cleric’s scholarship, Jim knows that his own mind is too crowded by memories of […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Book III: Lena Lingard: Chapters I-IVSummary and Analysis Book II: The Hired Girls: Chapters XI-XV
Summary Living at the Cutters’, Antonia has more time to spend with Lena, Tiny, and Norwegian Anna. One afternoon, the girls tease Jim about his grandmother’s hope that he become a Baptist preacher when he grows up. Because Jim shows no interest in Black Hawk’s young girls and prefers the […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Book II: The Hired Girls: Chapters XI-XVSummary and Analysis Book II: The Hired Girls: Chapters VIII-X
Summary In June, four Italians — the Vannis — arrive in town and set up a dancing pavilion. Dancing becomes the trend this summer, just as roller skating was the trend last summer. Parents send their children to take dancing lessons from the Vannis. On Saturday evenings, the local boys […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Book II: The Hired Girls: Chapters VIII-XSummary and Analysis Book II: The Hired Girls: Chapters V-VII
Summary Lena and Tiny listen to Anson Kirkpatrick, “Marshall Field’s man,” play the piano and tell jokes and stories at the Boys’ Home Hotel on Saturday nights. Lena tells Jim that she hopes he’ll become a traveling salesman when he grows up because they lead such colorful lives. Jim watches […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Book II: The Hired Girls: Chapters V-VII