To begin, the character Paul in “Paul’s Case,” by Willa Cather seems to be depressed and very misunderstood. Throughout the story Paul is portrayed as a young and awkward boy, never fully comfortable in his own skin. He is suspended from school and has a lot of issues with the people around him. He doesn’t like his family, teachers, or classmates because he sees things differently than them. Paul also hides his emotions from those around him which confuses most people, especially his family. It is stated in the reading, “Paul was always smiling, always glancing about him, seeming to feel that people might be watching him and trying to detect something.” His constant smiles are used to hide his true feelings and cover his fear of people judging.
