My Antonia 3 Essay, Research Paper

One person s dream is another person s nightmare. The book, My Antonia written by Willa Cather, tells of the last segment of Antonia’s life. In the final book, Jim wonders whether the life that is right for one is ever right for two. My thesis is in the case of the life of the Cuzak s. They are living the perfect life for Antonia, but not for Anton. Anton is a city man and thinks about that lifestyle all the time, even though he is happy with his Antonia.

There are clues that show that Anton may not be truly satisfied with his life, is when he says to his wife sometimes I get awful sore on this place and want to quit, but my wife she always say we better stick it out. The babies come along pretty fast, so it look like it be hard move, anyhow. (234) When Jim is talking to Anton by the windmill about Vienna, Ringstrasse, and the theatres Anton says Gee! I d like to go back there once, when the boys is big enough to farm the place. Sometimes when I read the papers from the old country, I pretty near run away, I never did think I would be a settled man like this. (234,235)

Antonia couldn t be any happier with the life she is living. She has become grizzled, lost many teeth, and has had to work hard in this new venture. One phrase that shows Antonia’s love for the farmland is when she says; There wasn t a tree here when we first came. We planted every one, and used to carry water for them, they were on my mind like children. Many a night after he was asleep I ve got up and come out and carried water to the poor things. (219) Antonia tells of how they started their farm and how she never gets lonesome there like she did in town. She asks You remember what sad spells I used to have, I ve never had them out here. (221)

In book number 4 of My Antonia , it reveals Antonia’s love for the farm lifestyle and the happiness it s brought her, even though Anton is a city man at heart and is not truly happy in his current state. Anton is satisfied with what he has and cannot leave Antonia with her strong will and coercive talk. This again demonstrates that the yielding husband struggles with the question, whether the life that is right for one was ever right for two? I believe that in this case it is not.