“Paul’s Case: A Study in Temperament” by Willa Cather and Margaret Atwood’s short story, “Death by Landscape,” focus on how the protagonists are isolated from the world, the people around them, and how they handle conflicts. There are similarities in how the protagonists are isolated and involved in conflicts or struggles, and although both protagonists experience a suicide situation, their endings are different. Paul, the protagonist in “Paul’s Case,” lives his short life fully, whereas Lois, the protagonist in “Death by Landscape,” lives a longer life, but in continuous conflict.
The first similarity is isolation. Paul self-isolates himself from his family and community into a world he hopes for. In his mind Paul isolates himself from the “ugliness and commonness” (Cather #) of his home and life. He loathes the idea of going to work as a clerk on Cordelia Street. To deal with his dual life, Paul mocks the school and teachers, but loves the atmosphere at Carnegie Hall where he is an usher, but feels like the host of a grand reception ( ), sees himself living in a lavish hotel ( ), and volunteers with actors to be in their atmosphere ( ). Paul’s teachers note that his imagination is “perverted by garish fiction” ( ) and Paul wonders if he will always be “destined…to shiver in the black night outside” ( ) looking in at the affluent atmosphere. …show more content…
Although the results of Paul's life are catastrophic, Paul lived his life fully, whereas Lois’ life has been incompletely lived. Paul experiences his own death by suicide, but Lois lives her life in the shadow of her friend Lucy who disappeared or committed suicide. Paul ends his ideal world isolated and away from his home and community by suicide ( ), whereas Lois’s friend’s disappearance or suicide leaves Lois in a never-ending state of
The first similarity is isolation. Paul self-isolates himself from his family and community into a world he hopes for. In his mind Paul isolates himself from the “ugliness and commonness” (Cather #) of his home and life. He loathes the idea of going to work as a clerk on Cordelia Street. To deal with his dual life, Paul mocks the school and teachers, but loves the atmosphere at Carnegie Hall where he is an usher, but feels like the host of a grand reception ( ), sees himself living in a lavish hotel ( ), and volunteers with actors to be in their atmosphere ( ). Paul’s teachers note that his imagination is “perverted by garish fiction” ( ) and Paul wonders if he will always be “destined…to shiver in the black night outside” ( ) looking in at the affluent atmosphere. …show more content…
Although the results of Paul's life are catastrophic, Paul lived his life fully, whereas Lois’ life has been incompletely lived. Paul experiences his own death by suicide, but Lois lives her life in the shadow of her friend Lucy who disappeared or committed suicide. Paul ends his ideal world isolated and away from his home and community by suicide ( ), whereas Lois’s friend’s disappearance or suicide leaves Lois in a never-ending state of