My Antonia Essay Example For Students

My Antonia Essay Most people find it very hard to pull up roots in their native land and move to a strange country. Throughout history, countless millions of people have done so. People forsake their homeland and move to another country for various reasons. Some people emigrate to avoid starvation. Some seek adventure. Others wish to escape unbearable family situations. Still others desire to be reunited with loved ones. However, the main reason for immigration has long been economic opportunitythe lure of better land or a better job. Yet, some people cant conform to the American way of life. Like replanting a flowers roots, completely moving a person so attached to their homeland and customs, can prove to be fatal. The garden symbolizes the freedom that children enjoyed during the youth years. When the sanke-incident happens Antonia brags about how brave Jim was. Antoniaexclaimed to Jims family, He fight something awful! He is all overJimmys boots. I scream for him to run, but he jsut hit an hit that snake likehe was crazy. (Page 33). At this point Jim realizes that Antonia was more that afriend but Antonia sees him more like a little brother especially since he isfour years younger than him. Work can also be another symbol in the term thatAntonia worked hard in the farm. Her neck came up strongly out of hershoulders, like the hole of a tree out of the turf Cather emphasizes. Antonia goal was to prove her mother that she can work as well as Ambrosch leadsher to compete with the men plowing and to pick up masculine traits thatovershadow her feminity. Antonia would always work hard in the fields and peopleknew she was a hard worker. This symbol of work showes how she does not give upeven though she is a girl. Through out the novel symbolism is often used inevery chapter. Willa Cather often used symbolism portaining to Jim and Antonia. Willa Cather thought that using symbolism would bring more meaning to the novel.