Positive Influencers on Jim “My Ántonia,” by Willa Cather, focuses on Ántonia Shimerda. Even so, the story is also Jim Burden’s story. He observes what other experience and learns from others in the story that save him from being a spoiled child. In addition to Ántonia, Lena Lingard, Mr. Shimerda, and Grandmother and Grandfather Burden are important influences in Jim’s life. Grandmother and Grandfather Burden greatly influenced Jim. They were good role models, they treated the immigrants fairly and kindly, and they loved the land and lead Jim to admire the land as much as them. Grandfather mentioned to Jim towards the beginning that one day the land that they lived on would feed the entire world. Over the course of the book, Jim reflects
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Shimerda had a great influence on Jim as well. He was without a doubt an influence on Jim but it is a little hard to describe precisely how. Mr. Shimerda was a kind, gentle spirit. He cared about his family very much. He gave up everything, his home, his friends, his music, to move to a foreign country and work hard for his family. Additionally, education was very important to him, especially for Ántonia. As evidence, “He placed this book in my grandmother’s hands, looked at her entreatingly, and said, with an earnestness I shall never forget, ‘Te-e-ach, te-e-ach my Án-tonia!”(1.3.16). Most importantly, Jim and Mr. Shimerda were like kindred spirits. Mr. Shimerda also had a romantic characteristic. A romantic characteristic is a passionate nationalism and/or love of country and another is deep-rooted idealism. Mr. Shimerda and Jim both reflected these romantic characteristics. Mr. Shimerda would talk about Bohemia, his home country, as a dream place with music and friends. He believed that life would be perfect in one …show more content…
Lena Lingard, Grandfather and Grandmother, and Mr. Shimerda were only three of the many others who helped influence Jim to be a better person and not turn out to be a spoiled child. Some of the ways they influence are the same, like the love of the country they live in, and some are different. Although Ántonia was the main focus of the story, Jim Burden is an important character in the book. He does not go through everything Ántonia goes through, but he observes much of what others go through and learns from
Shimerda had a great influence on Jim as well. He was without a doubt an influence on Jim but it is a little hard to describe precisely how. Mr. Shimerda was a kind, gentle spirit. He cared about his family very much. He gave up everything, his home, his friends, his music, to move to a foreign country and work hard for his family. Additionally, education was very important to him, especially for Ántonia. As evidence, “He placed this book in my grandmother’s hands, looked at her entreatingly, and said, with an earnestness I shall never forget, ‘Te-e-ach, te-e-ach my Án-tonia!”(1.3.16). Most importantly, Jim and Mr. Shimerda were like kindred spirits. Mr. Shimerda also had a romantic characteristic. A romantic characteristic is a passionate nationalism and/or love of country and another is deep-rooted idealism. Mr. Shimerda and Jim both reflected these romantic characteristics. Mr. Shimerda would talk about Bohemia, his home country, as a dream place with music and friends. He believed that life would be perfect in one …show more content…
Lena Lingard, Grandfather and Grandmother, and Mr. Shimerda were only three of the many others who helped influence Jim to be a better person and not turn out to be a spoiled child. Some of the ways they influence are the same, like the love of the country they live in, and some are different. Although Ántonia was the main focus of the story, Jim Burden is an important character in the book. He does not go through everything Ántonia goes through, but he observes much of what others go through and learns from