Author Archives: Sasa Jovanovic

“Significance of the Frontier,” Turner

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In this essay, Turner addresses many aspects of the frontier from its historic significance, to its contrast to European traditions, to the pros and cons of its relationship to individualism. It was interesting to consider the eastern states as the frontier of Europe, and as independence was achieved how the frontier had physically moved. Again, as with ‘O Pioneers’ we see the struggle between society and the wild, with society eventually championing but only after considerable. Further he stresses the different manners in which society championed, that laws and order differed in each town. This speaks to the larger question of individualism, and how in land for which there are no societal restrictions each person is able to find their own way. Perhaps most interesting to me of the piece was the culture of the pioneer, one fraught with “restless, nervous energy.”

O Pioneers (109-122)

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This conclusion to the novel left us with Cather’s interpretation of the frontier in the words of Alexandra: “The land belongs to the future… we come and go, but the land is always here. And the people who love it and understand it are the people who own it- for a little while.” She is describing the conquest or dominance of the land to equate to the future, that while we may strive to attain a goal or ‘dream’ it will always be fleeting and once one comes to terms with this is when possibilities open.

It also concludes with Alexandra succumbing to her love for Carl and admitting her loneliness- until this point in the novel Alexandra has alluded to solitude but has rather identified it as independence. Here we truly see the burden she has undergone in the years and its psychological effects on her.

O Pioneers review, A Novel Without a Hero

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This review of O Pioneers contrasts Cather’s opinions in Nebraska which applauds the immigrant effect on the frontier and calls it distinctly European, by instead calls O Pioneers “a tale that is American in the best sense of the word.” The review does not elaborate on what it means by this, in fact it goes so far as to point out how much the story O Pioneers contradicts the average American’s aspirations which do not involve back breaking work on the field. One thing the review does observe is that the novel is a feminist piece, and points to Alexandra and Maria as the heroines of the novel in addition to Mother Earth.

O Pioneers (71-107)

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Cather’s statements regarding love in this portion of the book are extremely pessimistic. The entire novel is filled with failed or unfulfilling marriages between mismatched individuals, and when  ‘true’ couples emerges, Emil and Maria or Amedee and Angelique, their stories end in tragedy. Perhaps Cather is attempting to normalize or support Alexandra’s decision to remain single, or perhaps Cather is shedding a light on her own opinions about love. Nevertheless, Alexandra is now facing a new challenge- the loss of her compass, Emil, for it was he that she worked for all these years. Will we see her return from his devastating death as she has dealt with other struggles in the past?

Will Cather, Nebraska

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In this writing, Cather addresses her European roots with potent emotion and champions the European mentality to American. Multiple times in “Nebraska” does she point out the cultureless United States, rather pointing the Europe as the cradle of civilization”. For this reason I find it interesting that she becomes such a contributor to the documenting of and understanding of American culture, which she repudiates so strongly in this text. Furthermore I think she points to a question which is applicable to many children of immigrants; that is, now that your parents have succeeded through work in this new world, what now? Immigrant parents express their hope that by settling elsewhere they would provide a better life for their children, one free of the burdens that they themselves have endured. Cather condemns the emphasis put on materialism by these children of immigrants, however she fails to find a substitute.

Willa Cather, My First Novels

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In Cather’s reflection of her novels and their respective successes, I thought it was not a unique opinion. Often times it is said that writers will write what is most familiar to them, whether it be regarding themselves or a place or community. I did wonder if this holds across other genres however: for example, in sci-fi or fantasy novels, how much does the author leave of themselves in the book in relation to other writers?

O Pioneers (50-71)

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In this section of the novel there is much to discuss about Alexandra’s opinions on marriage and  societal norms. Upon her confrontation with Lou, Oscar and ‘everyone’, Alexandra is left to deal with her own emotions regarding Carl and their future. Several questions arose from this reading for me: Is it sexism or age-ism or both that motivate Lou’s and Oscar’s opinions? Is Alexandra’s sudden development of feelings for Carl genuine, or is it an act of defiance in response to her brothers beliefs that this is the one thing that she cannot do? Are the marriages and couples portrayed in this novel a result of love or convenience and societal expectation?

Will Cather, O Pioneers! (pgs 1-50)

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The first 50 pages of the novel introduces the reader to the Swedish Bergson family as well as characters of the Divide, a region of the frontier.

Upon their father’s death, the Bergson siblings are faced with the decision to remain on the frontier tying their fate to the success of the land or to retreat to the city  where work is sure to be found. Alexandra, the protagonist of the story, was left as head-of-house following her father’s death and decides to remain. Sixteen years later, we find that she had made the eventually fruitful decision as the value of the land rose, making the family rich.

The conflict between individual security versus greater purpose is evident. For example, we are introduced to the Divide as many families are quitting the pursuit of making it on the frontier to return to the city. While Alexandra could have decided to return to the city which would have resulted in a considerably easier life for herself, she picks the harder choice of working the land. We see the difficulty in finding purpose on the frontier on page 49 with Carrie Jensen, who had attempted suicide multiple times because she failed to see beyond the monotonous fields. Alexandra attributes her purpose to her brother, Emil: “he is going to have a chance, a whole chance; that is what I’ve worked for.”

It will be intriguing to see the development of familial relationships within the Bergson family in the rest of the novel, as the characters grow more independent.