Self-Sacrifice In O Pioneers By Willa Cather

“There is no success without sacrifice. If you succeed without sacrifice it is because someone has suffered before you. If you sacrifice without success it is because someone will succeed after.” (“Adoniram Judson Quotes”). This quote comes from Adoniram Judson, who was an American Protestant Missionary in the 1800’s. Throughout Willa Cather’s book, O Pioneers, there are several themes and social issues that can be found. One of the most prominent of these social issues is that of self-sacrifice and the highs and lows that can come with it. Cather introduces and develops a number of characters in this book and self-sacrifice is a common theme in a lot of their lives. Being a pioneer in the early days of the United States, especially in …show more content…
between Emil Bergson and Marie Shabata, that is both admirable but immoral. Emil is the brother of Alexandra who grows up with her and is the only one out of their family to go to University. He graduates and comes back to live with his older sister again. Marie used to visit Emil’s town when they were younger, so they knew each other from a very early age. She was the niece of one of the residents and would only visit occasionally. Eventually, she moved back to the Divide with her newlywed husband, Frank Shabata, and bought a neighboring home next to Alexandra. Emil and Marie had a unique relationship over the years and there are several inferences that can be made throughout the book that suggest they were secretly infatuated with each other. Emil is heartbroken to learn that she has a husband and he constantly wonders why she does not love him instead. Marie, on the other hand, is a very lively and flirtatious girl, which gives Emil a lot of mixed signals regarding her affection for him. This only fuels his desire for her and it does not help matters that Marie is unhappily married and her husband, Frank, treats her miserably. At a wedding dinner towards the end of the book, the two share a passionate kiss in the dark and Cather writes, “The veil that had hung uncertainly between them for so long was dissolved.” (Cather 88). This signals a major shift in their relationship. Shortly after, Emil finds her laying in the orchard near her house and they express their love for each other. Frank Shabata eventually finds them, shooting them both out of anger and jealousy and ends their lives. This act of self-sacrifice, or rather the inability to, by Emil and Marie has a lasting impact on several people. The young lovers were unable to sacrifice their immoral lust for each other, which ended up costing them the ultimate sacrifice for their love. This act of love was unethical, yet