Analysis of Paul’s Case by Willa Cather

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According to many readers of Paul’s Case, this is a short story that shows affection, passion, and most of all enthusiasm. Willa Cather seems to base her stories off of daily life and events that she thought progressed in many lives. Her passion for writing showed in her literature giving a visualization on what people think doesn’t occur in the regular life of a person. Also throughout Willa Cather’s short stories she gave examples upon her childhood and her time spent in a small town she grew up in. Giving her the brilliancy and the ambition to become a writer of short stories which included, Paul’s Case. Themes are represented in all short stories in Paul’s Case, Cather shows the readers a young boy being brought up in a hostile environment whose only dream is to one day pursuiting more than what he came from to make his life better.

In Paul's Case by Willa Cather, a boy by the name Paul is the protagonist of the story. Paul is a roundcharacter, but not only does Paul show different personalities Paul seems to change his feelings throughout the story in many different situations. In the meeting in the beginning of the story Paul shows a careless attitude towards being entered in school after returning from suspension."His teachers felt this afternoon that his whole attitude was symbolized by his shrug of his shoulders" (Cather 1). Although shows this trait throughout the entire story along with similar actions, this makes him look like a disobedient student and shows his careless attitude towards the situation that he is in. Throughout the story Willa Cather portrays Paul as a different character from the beginning of the story, to the middle until the end. After returning to school Paul headed off to his job which wa...

... middle of paper ...

... ending. Many elements would have to deal with this fatal ending if it was from Paul’s selfishness, carelessness, ignorance or selfishness no one should have to endure the pain that was caused upon Paul throughout the entire story “Although Paul’s Case was a story of a ill behavior child it is still known to be some of Will Cather’s work” (David 1). Even though the story ends with an crashing it still gives examples of other human life, asking you to put your foot in others shoes.

Work Cited

Paul’s Case.” Short Stories for Students. Ed. Kathleen Wilson. Vol. 2. Detroit:

Gale. Web. 11 Jan. 2015.

“Critical Overview: “Paul’s Case”.” EXPLORING Short Stories. Detroit: Gale, 2003. Student Resource Center – Gold. Gale. Web. 11 Jan. 2015.

David, Carpete. “Paul’s Case.” Short Stories for Students. Ed. Kathleen Wilson. Vol. 2. Detroit: Gale. Web. 11 Jan. 2015.

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