Willa Cather's Adolescence : The Quest For Personal Autonomy?

Paul and his mother are inseparable knowing that they can only see eachother once in a while. Paul is internally affected because he feels guilty due to war, knowing that he was not there to take care of his mother when she needed assistance. At the end of Chapter 7, Paul receives a leave that is six weeks long and must return to the front when the six weeks are over. When he arrives at his hometown, he realizes that his mother is dying of cancer. He never expected his mother to be in these conditions so he says, “I was a soldier, and now I am nothing but an agony for myself, for my mother, for everything that is so comfortless and without end. I ought never to have come on leave” (Remarque 185). Not only does Paul feel guilty but he also has the feeling of regret. He feels guilty because he was not there to assist his mother when she needed attention.That is also why he calls himself an agony. The relationship between him and his his mother was lost. He also has the feeling of regret because he knows that he should not have enlisted in the army knowing that he has many other responsibilities outside the army such as his education, watching over his parents, and watching over his only sister. Now that there is nothing to do over his mother, he must spend a lot of time with her while he is on leave. When Paul says “I ought never to have come on leave”, he describes how

But even this maturity could not save him from the jaws of death. Before the war, Paul was a scholar who had ambitions and hopes for success in life. Unfortunately, war quenched that desire for success as revealed in the book when he returned home for a short stay. Paul's self confidence and sense of belonging in society was gone. He no longer shared any interest in his books, felt melancholic most of the time, and do not have the same outlook towards life as others did. Even though Paul tried very hard at concealing his inner emotions and to stage a bold front, it is not very difficult for the reader to see that a psychological battle was taking place inside him. "I ought to have never come here. Out there I was indifferent and often hopeless-I will never be able to be so again." Paul reveals that his trip home made him realize the destructive effects war had on his character and he regretted going home.

the love and care he unknowingly needs. Paul takes on roles that disguise his own traits and turns him into what he believes to be a person nobody can say no to. When he takes on these roles, he

In Paul’s world, “the nature always wore the guise of ugliness, that a certain element of artificiality seemed to him necessary in beauty” many of his actions are triggered by this view on life. In fact this prospective is what provoked him to become so self-destructive and withdraw and chiefly determines the ending. As mentioned above, indulging in art was only one of his ways of escaping the reality, death is another option. Much before his suicidal act in New-York, he devotes a whole night picturing what it would be like if his father accidentally kills him as a bugler. More disturbingly, he also imagines what happens if one day his father regrets not killing him. Paul is constantly bugged by fear, but never the less , he considers death as an ideal solution to life. Even at the finest moment of his life, when he prepares to go to New-york, Paul still buys a pistol so that he is entirely ready to take away his miserable life at any moment.

Paul showed good comradeship because of this he was being a good friend while his friend was on his death bed it was a sad day for Paul seeing his friend die that day he gave Müller the boots and few minutes after he left because he gave him the promise this was a good example of his sanity is in place and what character Paul is early in the novel he is a caring and loving human being who only wants the best for his friends not just himself and that is why he so loved by his

“He could not bear to have the other pupils think, for a moment, that he took these people seriously; he must convey to them that he considered it all trivial.” (238) Paul desperately wanted to portray himself as above everyone else, even at the beginning of the story when Paul was in the principal’s office he “entered the room suave and smiling” (231). There was an air of arrogance about him; he wore a red carnation and a tie to set himself apart from the other people in the room as if he were more refined than they were. Meanwhile, it was all an act, once the meeting was over “Paul ran down the hill whistling…looking wildly behind him now and then to see whether some of his teachers were not there to writhe under his light-heartedness.” (233) Even at the end once Paul realizes that he has been discovered, he never seems to consider the destruction he has caused, he is not remorseful that his father had to pay for his theft. Paul’s thoughts were purely on himself. “it was to be worse than jail, even; the tepid waters of Cordelia street were to close over him finally and forever.”

From a young age, Paul and his siblings have a mutual understanding with their mother that she does not love them. The narrator states, “Nevertheless, when her children were present, she always felt the centre of her heart go hard… Only she herself, and her children themselves, knew [the mother’s adoration of her children] was not so” (1). While this proves difficult for the children to bear, it proves the most difficult for Paul. When Paul is young, he becomes curious as to why his family does not keep a car of their own. According to his mother, it is “Because we’re the poor members of the family” (2), which is “…because [Paul’s] father has no luck” (3). Paul then informs his mother that he is lucky, hoping to impress her, but she does not believe him. According to Freudian psychology, Paul’s response is appropriate. The narrator explains, “This angered [Paul] somewhere, and made him

Because he is selfish and desperate to escape his normal life, he does not think about the consequences of his actions nor does he appreciate what he has. Once he is forbidden from attending his job at Carnegie Hall, we start to see the worst of Paul. Instead of talking to someone about his problems, Paul starts to lie to his father and steal money from his employer just to try to live the way he always wanted.

Societies are often placing strict rules and expectations for individuals to conform to, and it is up to the individual to follow these rules or not. Willa Cather displays the dark and true nature of the motivations that can direct an individual’s course of action through the arrogant and aloof high school student Paul, in “Paul’s Case”, and where Paul finds the motivation to escape his claustrophobic home in Cordelia Street. Paul initially feels imprisoned and unhappy with his life in Cordelia Street, so he seeks to escape; however, when Paul is met with the realization that he can no longer run away from his problems, he figures that the only solution is suicide.

Paul feels completely isolated home, which is where he should feel safe and secure. He feels as though he needs to hide who he is to prevent facing his father. After Paul comes home late from work he attempts to sneak in, for the fear of facing his father makes him nervous and visibly uncomfortable, showing his complete disconnect. “Then, again, suppose a day should come when his father would remember that night and wish there had been no warning cry to stay his hand?” (Cather). Paul feels so isolated from his father that he contemplates whether or not his dad wants him alive. The secluded nature of Paul’s personality informs the reader on how Paul may be struggling with who he is, not only in his father’s eyes, but in his own as well. The reader can tell that Paul is lonely, and the theater is his only means of escape. The grandeur lifestyle intrigues him and that is something his father will never understand. The attachment and pleasure he gets from viewing the upscale, rich art brings him so much happiness, his father does not understand that huge part of his life; ultimately, leading to their broken

The families both find themselves in situations where their financial situations fail to support their lofty views of themselves and their position. For Paul, his family repeatedly sought money as there was “…not nearly enough for

But consciously and unconsciously under the direction of God who constantly directed his steps. Paul provides to the church reassurance in God’s word that He prepares the way by promise, discipline and wrath- suffering. As Christ remains the center of his faith. Paul thoughts of his experiences were more theological meaning it began with and ends with God. Paul take a form of deliverance form suffering, he pronounce his gift of divine power that enables one to endure by abiding circumstances. Paul wanted to give the people, the church new and important information. He opens the second Epistle with his usual greeting and thanksgiving. He tells of personal experiences in a way that gains the attention of readers, of his troubles through which he had been passing. Through all of his trails he had learned to lean of God more. He stressed that God becomes real to us in our times of sorrow. We find that God never fails. Paul exemplifies God source of comfort to us, God says

For the first time in Paul 's life he had a father who took an interest in him, encouraging his talents and creativity while displaying exceptional patience with him. Yet, Paul 's other fathers overshadowed his bliss.

For the first time in Paul 's life he had a father who took an interest in him, encouraging his talents and creativity while displaying exceptional patience with him. Yet the closeness they shared was always overshadowed by Paul 's other two fathers.

Do you remember the hardships you went through as a teenager? If you are a teen, what are some things you struggle with? Without a doubt, being a teen is very difficult. Teens are emotional, rebellious, awkward, lost, etc. The list goes on and on. But it definitely doesn’t help when an abusive father is involved. Both Evelyn and Eleanor struggle with abuse from the men in their family, but take upon it differently. Although, they both have lover to keep their mind off their home life, but what happens when conflict bursts between them? What happens when their only escape is lost? What do they do then? Both stories portray how conflict impacts their decision making. The protagonist of the short story “Eveline” and the book Eleanor and Park both present the hardships of being a teenager through the conflict  they have with their father.