Happiness In Willa Cather's My Antonia

Despite the title of the book, “My Antonia” is very much centered on Jim Burden. The story begins with an outlook on Jim’s adult life, and we are then catapulted into his Nebraskan childhood. As the book progresses, we witness the mental and emotional development of Jim as he has new experiences and meets numerous people. The book then concludes with Jim again as an adult. As a reader, I have observed him complete a cycle (going from point a, to point b and arriving at point a again). Throughout the course of this cycle Jim relished the best days of his youth and endured the tribulations of life. The Virgil quotation “Optima dies… prima fugit” (the best days are the first to flee) is inserted at two points, prior to the introduction and prior

For as long as humans have existed, they have had struggles with happiness. The Scarlet Letter outlines one common human struggle with happiness. This passage from the Scarlet Letter takes place in the forest after Hester has gone to tell Dimmesdale, her former lover, about Chillingworth, her ex-husband. Chillingworth has been torturing Dimmesdale for the past 7 years, in order to punish him for committing adultery with Hester, Chillingworth’s wife. Hester did not tell Dimmesdale about this fact and at first he does not forgive her for not disclosing the truth. After, he does forgive her and Hester takes off the Scarlet Letter. In this passage and at other instances in the novel, Hawthorne raises the question of where is happiness found.

As the Navajo people chant, “Oh beauty before me, beauty behind me, beauty to the right of me, beauty to the left of me, beauty above me, beauty below me, I am on the Pollen Path. In the house of life I wander, On the pollen path.” (“Wandering the Navajo Pollen Path” 1). This chant is a Navajo Ritual, that is meant to remind the Navajo people that our journeys will have many starting points, stalling points, opportunities to develop, that people will be there to support us in our journey, until we are ready to emerge into the path and continue our journey. As a Navajo woman, who is Carmelita Graymountain and what is her journey like? Many close relatives and friends would say she has faced many hardships on her path. These hardships taught her to become even stronger and resilient than she was before. Furthermore, these

What does one’s response to conflict say about them? What is the best response? Studies show that positivity is one of the most effective way to react to conflict. Anne Frank, a young Jewish girl whose diary became “Anne Frank: the Diary of a Young Girl,” always tried to have a positive attitude and make the best of everything in her terrible situation. In “Dear Miss Breed” by Joanne Oppenheim, sixteen-year-old Louise Ogawa wrote in her letters to Miss Breed about how even though the living conditions were ruthless, she was determined to see the light. Positivity can affect not only one’s self, but those around them as well. In the face of responding to conflict, positivity can reduce stress and anxiety, help health, and provide a better environment.

Willa Cather’s novel, My Ántonia sheds light on the topic of immigration. Immigrants have many different reasons for why they might migrate to the United States. Some were trying to escape something from their old country such as avoiding a war, trouble with the law, or shame as is the case of the Russians Pavel and Peter. Reasons for immigrating could also relate to chasing the American dream as is the case with the Shimerdas. Challenges and hardships encountered by foreigners immigrating into the United States are demonstrated through Jake’s experiences with the Shimerdas, the Russians, and other foreigners.

It is important for people to overcome the obstacles they are faced with. Obstacles allow us to learn and become successful. In novels a character will often be faced with a problem. Just like a book, everybody has their own story filled with challenges. Recently I have read two novels that deal with sensitive topics and obstacles. Several years ago my grandma had very serious health issues. Each of these examples showcase the fact that it is important for everybody to experience obstacles in their life.

The documentary Sister Rose’s Passion, explains how Sr. Rose Thering took a stand against bigotry and prejudice towards the Jewish people. Throughout the documentary, she recounts her experiences of growing up and going to Catholic school. In school Sister Rose was taught that the Jews killed Christ, however, she believed that this was a mistake and a misunderstanding. Today bigotry and prejudice are conveyed through bullying and stereotypes.

In today’s society, people achieve happiness through interaction with others, but in Ray Bradbury’s dystopian Novel, Fahrenheit 451, his characters believe that they need technology to enjoy their lives. People’s main priority is to be happy and have a successful life. They don’t want to have to worry about anything and just enjoy themselves. “‘You must understand that our civilization is so vast that we can’t have our minorities upset and stirred. Ask yourself, what do we want in this country, above all? People want to be happy, isn’t that right? Well, aren’t they?’” (Bradbury 56). All people want in life is to be happy. They want to be untroubled and not have to stress about what’s going on in the real world. They think that technology will

As it is revealed in the novel, Define “Normal”, the setting plays a crucial role in the plot development. Fairly quickly in the novel, it is shown that the main character, Antonia’s mother has a severe case of depression which often leaves her extremely volatile and lackadaisical about her well-being and the others around her. Antonia typically finds her lachrymose and inconsolable, not wanting to be comforted or surrounded by anyone. Because of Patrice’s depression, Jazz and Antonia are led to become closer in many ways. Antonia’s mom’s depression brought on a sequence of events that helped Antonia grow as a person through the story.

In the novel, My Antonia, it expresses multiple themes in different sections of the novel. “Book Four, The Pioneers Women’s Story” has the theme ostracization. The book shows ostracization mainly on one specific character, Antonia. Frequently in the book Antonia is seen ostracizing herself from the people around her. Reading through My Antonia, written by Willa Cather, there seems to be a specific theme, ostracization.

Abigail Adams, the First Lady of the United States of America during the presidency of John Adams, often wrote letters to her beloved son, John Quincy Adams. At the time, John Quincy Adams was planning to travel around the world so his mother decided to write him a letter filled with sympathy, telling her son how much she appreciates his qualities and prestige. This particular letter contained pathos, an anecdote, and also tone to proficiently aid Abigail Adams get her rhetorically appealing message across to the mind of her son.

In the novel Fahrenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury, Many people do not realize that they are distracted from true happiness. A lot of individuals think that they are happy but their actions prove the opposite. Distractions for example are, Montag reads books even though he should not, It also can be as simple as saying “ I don’t care” like Montag’s wife Mildred does. Is it truly happiness, fun, and games or is everything just a distraction from being unhappy?

For a girl from Bohemia, learning to speak English and living on the prairie in Nebraska was a hard life in the late 1800’s. The cultural beliefs and traditions of America were both different and similar from Antonia’s Bohemian culture. Antonia and her family had to learn how to farm so they could make a living using the American’s culture of independent capitalism and private ownership. She survived her father’s death by using her bold and free spirited personality to work as hard as any man, which showed her strength, courage, and the immigrant spirit for a better life. This family tragedy also brought the community and the Shimerdas together through religious differences to mourn and respect a man. Antonia and Jim together learned

Charlotte Bronte’s classic heartfelt novel entitled “Jane Eyre” depicts how an unloved orphan constantly wishes for affection and acceptance throughout her life. Even at an early age in life, she never truly understood what it meant to be “loved” and what it means to “love” others. With this, maturing into a young lady definitely opened her eyes to the realities of life. Moreover, the novel also depicts a patriarchal society where women aren’t respected with dignity and equality. In this coming of age novel, discover how a young woman courageously faced her fears and triumphed with love in the end. Unraveling the acclaimed novel definitely showcased how in the end “Love conquers all”. Truly, Jane Eyre will forever remain as a masterpiece of art due to its dynamic characters, insightful themes and exquisitely crafted sense of style and writing.

The Websters Dictionary portrays or defines happiness as a state of content,satisfaction or euphoria.Happiness is something that cannot be forced or simulated and it is more that just a simple feeling or emotion.It is more than just a noun used in the vocabulary of the average third grade child.Happiness is an undescribable sentiment that anything can experience depending on that specific thing.It is natural and one of a kind.Jim defines happiness as"to be dissolved into something complete and great.When it comes to one it comes as natural as sleep".I do believe that this is something that Antonia would agree with.Being a young Bohemian girl she was poor and many would say she no not what happiness was.Especially them moving to a new place where they dont speak the language and barely get by each day.This is not the case though as she finds happiness and it is as breathing to her.Upon one of her first meeting with the narrator Antonia feels a deep happiness.The