O Pioneers By Willa Cather

Abraham Lincoln is quoted as saying, “So you’re the little woman who wrote the book that started this great war.” upon meeting Harriet Beecher Stowe for the first time. The book that the former president is referring to is Uncle Tom’s Cabin, a 1850s book about the moral wrongs of slavery. It has been said to be the most influential anti-slavery book that has ever been written. Harriet Beecher Stowe is an effective author. She uses numerous literary devices such as facile characters, character foils, and symbolism to highlight her abolitionist views and constructs a persuasive argument against slavery.

“But, I 'm already resigned to this fate / Looking over my life, I recall / If it hadn 't been / for the loneliness / I 'd have no companion at all. ” This stanza from “Loneliness”, by Lora Colon evokes the negative impact a lonely fate has on a person. Words like “resigned” and “loneliness” establish a sense of depression and resignation. During the times of the Great Depression, many people felt similar feelings of melancholy and stoicism. Jobs were hard to come by, and realistic dreams of success were scarce. John Steinbeck’s novel, Of Mice and Men, allows readers to see the life of the Great Depression. The two main characters, George and Lennie, search for jobs, like many other migrant workers. They dream of owning their own land, however, Lennie’s habit of getting in trouble prevents their dream from being reality. After he accidentally causes more trouble at their new job, George is forced to kill him out of mercy. Throughout the novel, Steinbeck shows that even if one meticulously plans out the road to their American Dream, fate will inevitably intervene and lead one to desolation and loneliness.

The character Aunt Alexandra reminds me of a close friend, my mom had a while back. She raised three boys who grew up to do nothing with their lives. When the lady would babysit me on the weekends she would make me do housework, for her. I questioned her, asking why her boys couldn’t do it, her response was that they were boys and that because I was a girl I was expected to take on the job of taking care of the house. Everytime I read a section where Aunt Alexandra was present it made me feel bad, Aunt Alexandra was forcing Scout dress in formal clothing rather than letting her express her individuality because it would be viewed as unlady like.

Throughout Alexandra’s childhood, she often dreamed of pleasures from “a man, certainly, who carried her, but he was like no man she knew…” (p.112) and these fancies continued as she grew older. She often slept in on Sunday mornings and during her lengthy sleep hours she “accidentally” fancied about a man whom she knew nothing about. These dreams appeared during times when she found herself the most fatigued from the unbearable work on the divide; “we grow hard and heavy here” (p.69). Surprisingly, Alexandra became disappointed with herself after the epiphany elapsed. “She would rise hastily, angry with herself, and go down to the bath-house...” (p.112) to cleanse her body. As incorporated in the novel, these feelings expressed more characteristics of Alexandra’s feminism as she daydreamed about a man in her life. However, little did she know that her dreams would soon become a reality.

This novel is full of interesting and richly painted characters,Aunt Alexandra was one of my favorite throughout the book. Reading To Kill A Mockingbird you can precisely see her transform into someone extremely courageous. When Harper Lee introduces Alexandra it seemed as if she was a very grouchy woman with a lot of dignity, and very prejudice. Scout and Alexandra encounter many struggles.While

In the story “O Pioneers!” by Willa Cather presents a young intelligent woman who had an American dream. Alexandra Bergson is a perfect model of emotional strength, strong-will and courage. She not only motivated herself but she always had a drive to encourage others to never give up on their dream. Building up the land, having more patience and passion than men, and self-sacrifice were some conditions Alexandra Bergson faced as a young woman. Overall, all of the obstacles she overcame granted her to live an American Dream she had planned to live all her life.

Alexandra is a hard working young lady and will do anything to make her father proud. When the drought and depression struck three years later, Alexandra's determination to keep the farm allows her to persevere.

(Lee 9) This quote from the story shows that Aunt Alexandra was taught a certain way in her past and that she still believes in this way of living. This is what her identity has become. Even though it may be seen as a bad event, it still shaped her identity into what it has

“But Nebraska was not always a bed of roses. When the first settlers arrived, they found a harsh, unforgiving place, a vast treeless expanse of barren, drought-parched soil. And so, summoning up the dynamic pioneer spirit of hope and steely determination, they left. But a few of them remained.”(Barry) The pioneers were expecting the land to work with them, but it was actually working against them. Winters were hard, and many pioneers gave up and left. The few who remained were proven to be strong and determined to force the land to cooperate. In Willa Cather’s My Ántonia and O Pioneers!, her purpose was to show readers that women could be strong pioneers, overcoming the adversity caused by the land, as seen through similes,

Marie is a country beauty queen, and has a magnetic pull that attracts everyone. The men in the drugstore are impressed and admiring Marie and her beauty, which is the same reaction she receives all her life. Frank could have his pick of the ladies when her comes to town but chooses Marie because she is the prettiest. In Part One, Marie is new to the divide, and is dressed like a city girl. Her beauty sets her apart from others throughout the book. If Frank hadn’t chosen her, her life would have been drastically happier and longer. In Part One, when Emil is attracted to Marie’s fancy clothes and beauty, Alexandra doesn’t pull him away. This is when Emil and Marie are young, but foreshadows their affair. Alexandra realizes in hindsight that she did not pull Emil away from Marie, even though she is married. Alexandra realizes that if she would have paid attention to Marie and Emil, she could have saved

What interested me from the book and made me realize that people back then were courageous they knew what they were looking for in life not only for themselves but also for their families. In the fact, that from the 1840s all the way to the 1860s there were approximately 52,000 pioneers that left for oregon. Not knowing what lead ahead for them they had the hope that their lives where going to get better. Some parts that were enjoyable in the book is how the author describes the difficulties that first females Narcissa Whitman and Eliza Spalding made it across the oregon trail they Proved some prior travelers and explorers that women could also make it.

The root of her beliefs comes from her father, who was a hard working farmer. During the middle of the novel, Alexandra is faced with a tough decision. The valley in which she lives is being plagued by a great drought. Neighbors all around could not take it anymore, so they sold their farms and moved away. Alexandra is faced with the decision to stay as her father would have wanted, or to go as her brothers would like to do.

Ever since the case involving Tom Robinson, Alexandra has questioned everything she’s known and felt about the “negroes.” Sure Calpernia is alright and Helen seemed like a nice person, but what about the rest? Alexandra’s mind was a beehive; running with thoughts and questions2. Alexandra had always heard awful things about the “negroes” and how disgusting they were from a great majority of the community, but Atticus didn’t think so and neither did a few others. The trial of Tom Robinson and Atticus have helped her see how wrong they were treating them, but there was absolutely no way she would voice her own opinion out loud in fear. She is a lady, and she had her place in society. A political leader is definitely not what a lady is supposed to be.

It was a traditional Southern county. Aunt Alexandra was just one character who was impacted by the South. Aunt Alexandra was the “perfect” Southern lady. Her Southern surroundings influenced her morals and how she saw the world. Reputations were important to uphold in the South.

With the 1960s came a need for change, as an immense amount of smog and toxic chemicals used in agriculture and industry caused, the blue to fade away from the sky and water in America. Rachel Carson provided the catalyst for this change with her book Silent Spring published in 1962, which revealed the harmful impacts of pesticides on almost all wildlife and human beings. People reading a book wouldn’t be enough, though, for twenty million Americans came together on April 22, 1970, to celebrate the beauty of Earth and raise awareness about increasing concerns for the environment and declining quality of life. (maybe add a sentence about structure and diversity of the movement) Without these key events leading to the Environmental Movement’s diversity and unique structure through the 1970s, American values in politics and way of life would not have been able to change.