Cathers Feminist Tendencies Essay
While the free essays can give you inspiration for writing, they cannot be used 'as is' because they will not meet your assignment's requirements. If you are in a time crunch, then you need a custom written term paper on your subject (cathers feminist tendencies)
Here you can hire an independent writer/researcher to custom write you an authentic essay to your specifications that will pass any plagiarism test (e.g. Turnitin). Waste no more time!
Willa Cather’s Feminist Tendencies
Willa Cather tends to portray static characters with little depth, yet she seems to
approach her female characters with an air of liberalism that allows for a more
well-rounded exploration of society than is found in the works of other conteporary
authors. Cather depicts women as both the classic “mother woman” and the independent
individual. Allowing her to free the female character from heir reliance on men. Her
women are not just mothers, daughters, or wives; they are characters of their own -- able
to grow and explore. A flare is given to Cather’s pioneer stories by the dynamics of some
of her female characters. The independent women in Cather’s tales expand the window
through which their society is judged, while the “mother-woman” frame of that window is
solidified through the traditional values that they represent. In My Antonia Cather
explores the diversity of the female race through two generations of women. Cather
further elaborates on the duality of the woman’s role of society in Sapphira and the Slave
Girl.
Mrs. Burden, the first woman introduced in My Antonia, represents the traditional
values of society. Her description is that of a bird: “she was apt to carry her head thrust
forward in an attitude of attention”, “she was quick footed and energetic in all her
movements” and “her voice was high and rather shrill.” Mrs. Burden is in a constant flight
about her home. She is an obedient wife and a “mother-woman.”. She is a homemaker, a
teacher to Antonia, the woman of the farm and the greatest help to her neighbors. Cather
uses Mrs. Burden to extol the values of the vaguely known townspeople. She respects the
Christian ideals of her small Mid-Western town and is nonjudgmental. She is pure of heart
and soul as she accepts the actions and choices of those to whom she hopes to set an
example. Mrs. Burden is the foundation of society and a foil to the independent girls of
her grandson’s generation.
Antonia is one of Cather’s few dynamic characters. She explores all the possible
options for her life before becoming the “mother-woman.” As a young girl Antonia was
“quick, and very eager” to learn the ways of the new world in which she found herself.
When she moves to Black Hawk, as a young woman, she is exposed to a larger world.
She is taken aback by the freedom and opportunities that life in a town offers. At first
Antonia is weary of exploring the options available to her, but as she slowly discovers the
excitement of Black Hawk she begins to change. When a tent was erected for dancing
lessons Antonia was hooked on freedom. The eagerness in her takes over and “at the first
call of the music, she became irresponsible.” Antonia rebels against the traditional values
of her society and rejoices in her independence. Cather utilizes the adolescent tendency
towards rebellion of the status-quo to explore the dynamics of the female character.
When Antonia bears a child out of wedlock unlike “another girl [who] would have kept
her baby out of sight,... [Antonia]... must have its picture on exhibition at the town
photographer’s, in a great gilt frame.” The character of Antonia exposes the feminism of
Cather. Cather allows her women to be free, not of social judgment, but of social
restraint. At the closing of the novel we find that Antonia has discovered herself and
settled down and raised a family. Antonia has found what she has searched for, happiness,
through her freedom and gone from an independent individual to a “mother-woman.”
Cather expanded upon the feminism demonstrated by Antonia through Tiny
Soderball and Lena Lingard. Both girls are as independent as Antonia. They are viewed
by the townsfolk as a “threat to the social order.” But Black Hawk residents had nothing
to fear. Lena and Tiny would go on to be successful, contributing, businesswomen in
distant cities. Both girls were nonconformists and rebelled against...
MLA Style
. EssayMania.com. Retrieved on 26 May, 2012 from
<http://essaymania.com/71424/cathers-feminist-tendencies>
More College Papers
Catherine Of Aragon essay
During the 1500Â’s, European countries often wielded marriage alliances as an important weapon in the battle against political insecurity and mounting church corruption. Attempting to solidify peace between two countries, the monarchs would marry off their princesses creating dizzying family trees an
Overpopulation essay
Persuasive Essay: Overpopulation Overpopulation is becoming one of the most preeminent
problems facing human civilization. This complicated, pervasive issue will come to be a problem
of the utmost importance for people of all races, religions, and nationalities. Our planet now
provides for approx
Career: Certified Medical Assistant essay
Health Occupations
Health Career Research Paper: Certified Medical Assistant
There are many exciting careers in the medical field. One of them is the position of a medical assistant. There are many things that one is able to do as a medical assistant. Their main duty is to assist, as the title imp