Throughout My Antonia, Antonia undergoes many hardships, yet she perseveres. She never loses the “fire of life” as Jim calls it, and refuses to accept the problems in her life. Never asking for help or pity, Antonia faces her challenges head on. Her eventual success at the end of the book is a direct result of this. If we take success to mean happiness, it is clear that the way Antonia solves her problems has a direct relationship to her contentment and the end of the book. Antonia’s success occurs because she always sees the bright side of her challenges. During the first winter of Antonia’s stay in America, the Shimerda’s are in a terrible situation. Every person in the family seems hopeless and no one is working or trying to help the
…show more content…
She prefers country life, which is less lonely. “You remember what sad spells I used to have [in town], when I didn’t know what was the matter with me?”(221), Antonia asks Jim. She was alone and depressed in town, and longs for the country. Anyone else in her position would despise town-life and regret going. However, Antonia makes light of it, as she always does. “Oh, I’m glad I went! I’d never have known anything about cooking or housekeeping if I hadn’t. I learned nice ways at the Harlings’, and I’ve been able to bring up my children so much better,”(221). Even though the town made her feel sad and alone, Antonia does not regret it. She sees it as a challenge, but a useful one. Had she not tried to see it as good, she would not have been able to cook, clean, or raise civilized children. Again, her hard work leads to her …show more content…
Unmarried and pregnant, she goes through many struggles and is ashamed. Still, she perseveres and does not let people pity her. She explains to the Widow Steavens: “ ‘I’m not married Mrs. Steavens,’ she says to me very quiet and natural-like, ‘and I ought to be’ “(200). She states her current predicament “naturally” as if it is just a simple matter. The reader knows from this that she does not want people to feel bad for her. She simply lays out the facts of the matter and does not speak about it again. When she has her baby, she is not ashamed of it as some would be. Mrs. Steavens remarks that “Antonia is a natural born mother,”(204). When Jim meets up with Antonia he develops a similar conclusion. Antonia explains “Father Kelly says everybody’s put in the world to do something, and I know what I’ve got to do. I’m going to see that my little girl has a better chance than ever I had. I’m going to take care of this girl, Jim,”(206). Jim tells her that he knows she’s telling the truth. Antonia shows no concern that she had a child out of wedlock, a serious offense at the time. She does not resent her daughter, as some would on account of shame. She has no regrets. Antonia only wants to give her daughter a good life; she feels that this is her purpose in life. Later we see that this child brings her great happiness because of her love for the
She prefers country life, which is less lonely. “You remember what sad spells I used to have [in town], when I didn’t know what was the matter with me?”(221), Antonia asks Jim. She was alone and depressed in town, and longs for the country. Anyone else in her position would despise town-life and regret going. However, Antonia makes light of it, as she always does. “Oh, I’m glad I went! I’d never have known anything about cooking or housekeeping if I hadn’t. I learned nice ways at the Harlings’, and I’ve been able to bring up my children so much better,”(221). Even though the town made her feel sad and alone, Antonia does not regret it. She sees it as a challenge, but a useful one. Had she not tried to see it as good, she would not have been able to cook, clean, or raise civilized children. Again, her hard work leads to her …show more content…
Unmarried and pregnant, she goes through many struggles and is ashamed. Still, she perseveres and does not let people pity her. She explains to the Widow Steavens: “ ‘I’m not married Mrs. Steavens,’ she says to me very quiet and natural-like, ‘and I ought to be’ “(200). She states her current predicament “naturally” as if it is just a simple matter. The reader knows from this that she does not want people to feel bad for her. She simply lays out the facts of the matter and does not speak about it again. When she has her baby, she is not ashamed of it as some would be. Mrs. Steavens remarks that “Antonia is a natural born mother,”(204). When Jim meets up with Antonia he develops a similar conclusion. Antonia explains “Father Kelly says everybody’s put in the world to do something, and I know what I’ve got to do. I’m going to see that my little girl has a better chance than ever I had. I’m going to take care of this girl, Jim,”(206). Jim tells her that he knows she’s telling the truth. Antonia shows no concern that she had a child out of wedlock, a serious offense at the time. She does not resent her daughter, as some would on account of shame. She has no regrets. Antonia only wants to give her daughter a good life; she feels that this is her purpose in life. Later we see that this child brings her great happiness because of her love for the