Friendship In Willa Cather's My Antonia

The book, My Antonia written by Willa Cather, talks about a friendship between Jim and Antonia. I am more oriented towards the idea that Jim learned more about the relationship than Antonia when Mr. Shimerda begged Jim to “Te-e-ach, te-e-ach my Antonia”. My research suggests that Jim and Antonia had formed a relationship because of their likeness of each other. Ther were both young and sensitive to the circumstances that took them West. Jim had lost both of his parents and Antonia, being moved to a completely different country, permitted them to a relatable feeling of loneliness of an isolation. In a sense, this isolation of their norms drew them together.

Jim had admiration of Antonia’s father, Mr. Shimerda, and was

humbled and willing to attempt to teach Antonia English words. “He placed this book in my grandmother's hands, looked at her entreatingly, and said with an earnestness which I shall never forget, "Te-e-ach, te-e-ach my Án-tonia!". This was after Antonia, Yulka and Jim experienced her learning "Blue sky, blue eyes,". Jim felt amazed at such a simple moment of Antonia understanding the words “Blue sky, blue eyes,” and the father asking him to tutor his daughter.

Jim also learned the feeling of pride. Book 1, Section 3 states that, “I became somewhat embarrassed, for I was used to being taken for granted by my elders.”. This was probably a new emotion that Jim experienced since coming to the western frontier. Without realizing it, Jim was teaching Antonia during this brief moment of Antonia, Yulka, and Jim running up to the “gold tree-tops” and, “Ántonia pointed up to the sky and questioned me with her glance”.