Character Analysis: Paul's Case

Annelise Rickman

Professor Lunsford

English 1302

29 May 2014

Paul’s Case

A teenaged boy who is in trouble at school, steals money from his employer, and finally commits suicide, presents a complex puzzle as the main character in Willa Cather’s “Paul’s Case.” At his high school, Paul is accused of being “defiant” (Cather 1), showing “contempt” (Cather 1) for his teachers, and having no remorse. Paul works as an usher at Carnegie Hall, and spends his free time at a local theater with his actor friend, Charley Edwards. When Paul expresses his disdain for his teachers and classmates by lying about his friendship with actors at the theater company, he is expelled from school and banned from his job and from further visits to the theater and Charley. Paul finds a job, but steals money from his employer to finance eight luxurious days in New York City. His employer discovers Paul’s theft, and his father learns that he is in New York City. Realizing that his fantastical week is almost over, Paul travels to a railroad track in Pennsylvania, where he jumps in front of a train, killing himself. “Paul’s Case” is the story of an alienated teenaged boy whose character is defined by his alienation from other people, demonstrated by his unusual appearance, his interest in music and the theater, and his poor relationships.

Paul’s appearance is unusual for a teenaged boy. Paul likes to look good; he is happy that his usher’s uniform is “very becoming” (Cather 3). He likes to primp and take time getting dressed, such as when he is in New York, he pays close attention to how he looks, “watching every stage of his toilet carefully in the mirror” (Cather 12). During his eight days in New York City, he buys clothes at expensive stores (Cather 11). ...

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...ntasy cannot continue. Unable to return to his monotonous, alienated life, Paul commits suicide.

Cather’s story, “Paul’s Case,” depicts a teenaged boy who is alienated from other people. Cather shows Paul’s alienation through his clothes and mannerisms, his interest but lack of participation in music and the theater, and his condescending treatment of other people. His alienation leads him to try to make his fantasies of a rich, romantic life come true in New York, but the death of his fantasy ends with Paul’s own death by suicide.

Works Cited

Cather, Willa. “Paul’s Case.” Sam Houston State University English Department. Sam Houston State

University. n.d. Web. 14 May 2014.

Ditsky, John. “Cather: Overview.” Reference Guide to Short Fiction. Ed. Noelle Watson. Detroit: St. James

Press, 1994. Literature Resource Center. Web. 26 May 2014.

Works Cited