Near the end of the first story, Ántonia states to Jim that “things will be easy for you. But they will be hard for us” (Cather 90). “You” in this instance includes Jim and all other white people of America who have no trouble being accepted into colleges and getting jobs, while the “us” is not only Ántonia but also immigrants to America. Ántonia notices how the dominant ethnicity receives the first opportunity in education and work; while immigrants or people of other ethnicities are secondhand to them. Also apparent to Ántonia is how backgrounds and social status impact one's opportunities both in and out of America. The lives of Jim and Ántonia are evidence of the theme. Jim, being from multiple generations of Americans, easily attends school
…show more content…
In addition to the differences between Jim and Antonia, “My Antonia” displays evidence of this in other characters. Peter Krajiek, the only interpreter to the Shimerdas, exploits their ignorance of American ways and limited resources to better himself. Because the Shimerdas can not speak English or express their desires in anyway, they take the Krajiek’s offer of purchasing his homestead which according to Mrs. Burden is “no better than a badger hole; no proper dugout at all” (Cather 16). Krajiek also discouraged them from going to Black Hawk because “they would somehow be mysteriously separated from their money” (Cather 23). The girls who work on farms are “physically...almost a race apart...physical exercise was thought rather inelegant for the daughters of well-to-do families” (Cather 127), demonstrating a stereotype that women are not suppose to work in fields, but to remain indoors. Jim felt “the attitude of the town people toward these girls very stupid” (Cather 129), no matter how many times he explains that the immigrants were as prestigious in their old countries, the town people still stated “what does it matter? All foreigners were ignorant people who couldn’t speak English” (Cather
In addition to the differences between Jim and Antonia, “My Antonia” displays evidence of this in other characters. Peter Krajiek, the only interpreter to the Shimerdas, exploits their ignorance of American ways and limited resources to better himself. Because the Shimerdas can not speak English or express their desires in anyway, they take the Krajiek’s offer of purchasing his homestead which according to Mrs. Burden is “no better than a badger hole; no proper dugout at all” (Cather 16). Krajiek also discouraged them from going to Black Hawk because “they would somehow be mysteriously separated from their money” (Cather 23). The girls who work on farms are “physically...almost a race apart...physical exercise was thought rather inelegant for the daughters of well-to-do families” (Cather 127), demonstrating a stereotype that women are not suppose to work in fields, but to remain indoors. Jim felt “the attitude of the town people toward these girls very stupid” (Cather 129), no matter how many times he explains that the immigrants were as prestigious in their old countries, the town people still stated “what does it matter? All foreigners were ignorant people who couldn’t speak English” (Cather