Cuzak's Boys

The hard-working middle class, with an educated upper class is one of key characteristics of the late 1800s and early 1900s. Likewise, an emphasis on the middle class and socioeconomic discrepancies between classes are central traits of realism. My Antonia, a realist novel by Willa Cather, chronicles the life and development of Jim Burden. Jim is an upper class, well-educated young boy who grows into a Harvard graduate and successful lawyer. His journey and development is constantly assisted by others, whether it is Antonia Shimerda, a poor Bohemian immigrant that Jim befriends, or Gaston Cleric, a college professor and comrade of Jim. It is not until the end of the novel that Jim can exist as a free character, independent of others. Willa Cather’s My Antonia is a tale of the development of Jim Burden, which can be seen through the suicide of Mr. Shimerda, his attempt to kiss Antonia, and his reconciliation with Antonia at the end of “The Pioneer Women’s Story.” Mr. Shimerda is the patriarch of the Shimerda family, until his depression led to him taking his own life. Mr. Shimerda’s suicide is a result of several factors, which include his lack of the ability to provide for his family in America and the seemingly impossible uphill battle that he and many other immigrants fought coming into the United States. These resulted in depression and later suicide. Mr. Shimerda’s suicide changed the outlook and fate of the Shimerda family. For the family, it was a crossroads, as it was a key point in their lives and significantly changed the direction of the family. Not only does Ambrosch take over his father’s role as the leader of the family, but Antonia takes on the role of a hard-working, masculine figure in order to help her family succeed in America. In the end of “The Shimerdas,” Jim evokes a dialogue between Antonia and him, stating, “’Oh, better I like to work