Analysis Of The Underlying Motifs At Work In Paul's Case

The Underlying Motifs at Work in Paul’s Case In the short story Paul’s Case by Willa Cather there are many questions that are raised throughout. Such as the belief that Paul is a narcissist and the tendencies that Paul displays that hint towards PTSD. These main points of the novel are evident through the fact that Paul thinks he is too good for school, and the nervous ticks that he displays when he is around his teachers and Father. However the true main point of the short story is the sexuality of the main character, Paul. Although it is never confirmed many believe that Paul is a homosexual because of the subtle clues Cather presents the reader throughout the story. Paul’s sexuality is but one piece in the story lays the foundation for

This statement from Rubin Really shows who Paul is in the story because Paul was Terrified that his Father was going to find his violet water, so he hides it in a little compartment. Rubin’s analysis about the violet water also draws up ideas about how Paul just wants to be himself but he still cares what his father and what others might think of him if he lets his feminine side show. Rubin also brings up another interesting point about Paul’s relationship towards to his father “It is difficult to imagine a situation where Paul’s father would feel so completely disgraced by his son that he could actually wish that he shot his son beforehand” (5). When Paul sneaks in side of the house he thinks that his father might mistake him for an intruder but he also says that his father might be happy if he shot him. This suggests that the relationship between Paul and his father isn’t great, but Paul immediately jumping to the conclusion that his

He runs away to New York and buys very expensive clothes, and he rents a room at an extravagant hotel. Phillip Page’s essay brings up interesting ideas about the theatrical elements in Paul’s Case. This quote from Page helps further the complexity of Paul’s character “We see Paul offstage in the dressing room changing costume and character getting ready for his next role. This costume also does not fit” (1). At the beginning of the story Paul is trying to play the Character that his father wants him to; to hide that he is homosexual, but his rebellious nature gets in the way. Now at the end part of the story he has adapted a new character that he has desired to be for so long, but like the quote mentions he once again is not the person he is trying to portray. Even though he has the fancy clothes and a luxury hotel room for a week he isn’t this person because he doesn’t have the money to live a lavish life. The thought of having to go back to a life where he has to hide his true self devastates Paul so he takes the drastic route by stepping in front of a train. This is the final action that Paul commits in the novel and it shows the deep despair that most likely a lot of homosexual people felt at the time because of the negativity associated with