Like it or not, humans tend to receive influences from their surroundings. Whether external or internal, influences help people grow and develop as human beings. Willa Cather’s short story, “Paul’s Case,” revolves around Paul, a boy who seems out of place from everyone else. He often conflicts with teachers and his father due to his troublesome attitude and personality. After getting suspended from school, Paul finds comfort while working as an usher at Carnegie Hall. Once he returns to school, he begins to disrespect the students and teachers. Because of this, the principal and his father forbid Paul from going to school, Carnegie Hall, or the theater. Paul moves to New York to work at Denny & Carson’s office but steals money from the office.
…show more content…
Cather applies direct characterization to emphasize the severity of his problems. “Paul was always smiling, always glancing about him, seeming to feel that people might be watching him and trying to detect something.” (Cather 2). Through this characterization of Paul, Cather demonstrates that Paul feels paranoid all the time, because he believes people are always watching him. Cather also states how Paul’s father, teachers, and other students feel his insolence towards them, further proving his narcissism. Paranoia and narcissism both control Paul’s way of thinking, to an extent. While Paul sneaks into the house late at night, he wonders, “Suppose his father had heard him getting in at the window, and come down and shot him for a burglar?” (Cather 7). Paul’s thoughts of his father’s killing him proves to the reader that Paul has a mental problem. This shows that Paul is afraid of an unnecessary, insignificant thought, adding onto his paranoia. Paul’s thoughts about his father alludes to Paul’s suicide later on in the story. Rob Saari analyzes in his article, “‘Paul 's Case’: A Narcissistic Personality Disorder, 301.81”, “If the narcissist is criticized in a way that threatens the grandiose sense of self, he or she may experience feelings of ‘shame or humiliation,’ which can lead to ‘social withdrawal, depressed mood’ or ‘major depressive disorder’” (2). Saari provides one of many explanations of the reason behind Paul’s suicide at the conclusion of the short story. Each of these characteristics perfectly apply to Paul, further proving that Paul epitomes narcissism. This shows Cather did not coincidentally give Paul a narcissistic attitude. She purposely made him the living expression of narcissism. Consequently, Paul’s narcissism leads him from Pittsburgh to New York, and from New York to his
Cather applies direct characterization to emphasize the severity of his problems. “Paul was always smiling, always glancing about him, seeming to feel that people might be watching him and trying to detect something.” (Cather 2). Through this characterization of Paul, Cather demonstrates that Paul feels paranoid all the time, because he believes people are always watching him. Cather also states how Paul’s father, teachers, and other students feel his insolence towards them, further proving his narcissism. Paranoia and narcissism both control Paul’s way of thinking, to an extent. While Paul sneaks into the house late at night, he wonders, “Suppose his father had heard him getting in at the window, and come down and shot him for a burglar?” (Cather 7). Paul’s thoughts of his father’s killing him proves to the reader that Paul has a mental problem. This shows that Paul is afraid of an unnecessary, insignificant thought, adding onto his paranoia. Paul’s thoughts about his father alludes to Paul’s suicide later on in the story. Rob Saari analyzes in his article, “‘Paul 's Case’: A Narcissistic Personality Disorder, 301.81”, “If the narcissist is criticized in a way that threatens the grandiose sense of self, he or she may experience feelings of ‘shame or humiliation,’ which can lead to ‘social withdrawal, depressed mood’ or ‘major depressive disorder’” (2). Saari provides one of many explanations of the reason behind Paul’s suicide at the conclusion of the short story. Each of these characteristics perfectly apply to Paul, further proving that Paul epitomes narcissism. This shows Cather did not coincidentally give Paul a narcissistic attitude. She purposely made him the living expression of narcissism. Consequently, Paul’s narcissism leads him from Pittsburgh to New York, and from New York to his