Willa Cather The Outlaw Hero

Today I will be discussing the prevalent theme in the novel of Paul's journey to reach maturity, the importance other characters whom he interacts with played in the development of his character and

Johnson provides a brief account of the novella 's plot, together with his own perspective on the fact that so much of literature and literary analysis concentrates on the relationships that the characters have. In this case, the author examines the family as composed of children of ineffectual parents. While this writer does not know this with certainty, it is possible that many cases requiring family therapy are due to this very cause. The author then goes on to discuss the family in the context of the greater social system.

In "The Thematic Paradigm", Robert Ray explains how there are two distinctly different heroes, the outlaw hero and the official hero. The official hero embraces common values and traditional beliefs, while the outlaw has a clear sense of right and wrong but operates above the law (Ray). Ray explains how the role of an outlaw hero has many traits. "The attractiveness of the outlaw hero's childishness and propensity to whims, tantrums, and emotional decisions derived from America's cult of childhood", states Ray. (309) Ray also says, "To the outlaw hero's inconsistence on private standards of right and wrong, the official hero offered the admonition, you cannot

Paul was not unscathed through her participation in women’s suffrage. It is through these consequences that she can be designated morally courageous. For the sole purpose of exhibiting her presence at her protests Paul faced arrest and harsh beatings. Through the time elapsed during

throughout the novel Paul sees lies and pushes himself to find the truth. “I used to tell people that I once stared too long at a solar eclipse. But if that's the truth, if that really happened, why can't I remember it?” (39) This quote shows the time where Paul sees a lie in his past. because of this Paul is motivated 2 uncover the truth. this gives him a newly found confidence and he ultimately ends up understanding the truth in his past. Similarly Paul again these lies. he feels the need to go deeper, “ I yanked off my coke bottle glasses and shook them at him in Rage.’ There are questions that need to be answered about these! Am I such a stupid idiot fool that I stared at a solar eclipse for an hour and blinded myself? Is that who I am? And I am I an idiot?’” (264) Quotes all leave enormous live and demands the truth. Upon gaining this truth he get self appreciation and understands his past. Examples show site and how it helps Paul deepen his understanding of

He is now serving a minimum of five years in jail, all due to the fact that he was doing what his parents were doing. Parents are role models for their kids, and if a kid's role models sell drugs, there is a good chance that the kid will as well. His whole family was torn apart. The allure of what and older sibling does was also a key theme in both The Pact and in my friend's life. In The Pact little kids would idolize their older brothers and sisters,wanting to do every thing in which their siblings did. This was also true in Paul's case. His brother Brian was only fifteen years old. Since his brother sold drugs, the person who he looked up to, he began selling drugs. He was arrested as well and is serving time in a juvenile detention center. Paul's life was ruined for following what his role models did, and his brother's life was ruined for following what his big brother did. These themes of following the actions of what someone's parents and/or older brother or sister do are

In her short story "Paul's Case," Willa Cather tells the tale of a young boy's struggle to separate himself from his common, everyday life and the people he shared it with. Paul admired the opulence of the theater, the wardrobe, the perfumes, the lights, the colors, the flowers, and the champagne. When he realized it wasn't possible to have these things, he threw his life away. Cather's purpose was to show that, by focusing on what he didn't have, Paul could not live at all.

While most of society define heroism as a person who saves lives, people with heroism show bravery and opposition to society or its laws. In Sophocles’ Greek tragedy Antigone, King Creon defies his society’s laws for his own self pride while in Voltaire’s novel Candide, a young boy breaks his uncle’s rule to fulfill his desires. Both characters challenge their society’s laws and take a stand against the flawed principles; however, should people consider Creon and Candide as heroes? Individuals do not have an obligation to challenge laws due to the fact that it leads to multiple deaths and the suffering of themselves or of others.

Willa Cather's "Paul's Case," displays the conflict between conformity and individuality through the main character, Paul. On a number of occasions, Paul is forced to lie and steal to escape the conformists who wish to control him and stifle his unique imagination. However, his lying, stealing, and attempts to escape the conformists, only force Paul into isolation, depression, and feeling a sense of shame for his individuality. Throughout the story one might see Cather's constant contrast of individuality versus conformity, as well as Paul's lying and stealing. Cather seems to draw the conclusion that extreme individuals, much like Paul are simply misunderstood, and not offered the acceptance they desire

Paul has got an old university friend, a character who is very important for this book. His name is Ed Finnerty. He is the fatal character for Paul because he is the one who makes Paul realize his real position and all the people's real positions. He is

Paul stole more than $1000, enough to live for a month in New York City, at the time of the story, and only if spent cautiously. But, no... Paul would have none of that. It would have been a waste to have more money than he had ever seen in his life, and yet live just as he had throughout his life. He wanted to live in style, the way the rich folks did. So, Paul spent the money within a week on all the best clothes, the best food, the best hotel room, the best flowers, and the best life. The money disappeared within a week and Paul was forced to leave it all behind and return to the dreariness of middle class existence.

237). By riding his rocking horse Paul is able to predict the winner of horse races at the track. He uses this ability in an attempt to provide for the family. In doing this he tries to assume his father’s in an attempt to please his mother and the household’s constant whispering the need for more money. “I started it for mother. She said she had no luck, because father is unlucky, so I thought if I was lucky, it might stop whispering.” (Kennedy & Gioia, 2013, pp. 240) even as Paul is dying he is still consumed with trying fill the role of a provider for his mother, “I never told you, mother, that if I can ride my horse and get there, then I’m absolutely sure – oh, absolutely! Mother, did I ever tell you? I am lucky!” […] “But the boy died in the night.” (Kennedy & Gioia, 2013, pp. 245). Paul’s death was a sacrifice to please his mother, who put her desires for money and material things above the love of her children.

in his quest to the live the life he always wanted, Paul not wanting to face his father and his true reality takes his own life by jumping in front of a train. He could not live with

In "The Thematic Paradigm", Robert Ray explains how there are two distinctly different heroes, the outlaw hero and the official hero. The official hero embraces common values and traditional beliefs, while the outlaw has a clear sense of right and wrong but operates above the law (Ray). Ray explains how the role of an outlaw hero has many traits. "The attractiveness of the outlaw hero's childishness and propensity to whims, tantrums, and emotional decisions derived from America's cult of childhood", states Ray. (309) Ray also says, "To the outlaw hero's

The central theme mainly focuses on a woman named Hester who had no luck and was never satisfied with her life. Since Paul didn’t recognized his circumstances, it created him to desperately seek for his mother’s love and approval. Therefore, the pursuit of money and material riches are the arguments conveyed in the story that interprets Paul attempting to brighten up his need for love by pleasing his mother’s lust for money. However, others may believe that Paul is just an ordinary kid who enjoys his rocking horse and don’t really understand the true meaning of money. In the story, “The Rocking Horse Winner”, Paul’s arc demonstrates that the power of money led to greediness and the intense desire for wealth.