A Landscape of Emotions
Being consumed by one’s surroundings results in an impressionable experience.
Taking a deep breath of fresh air, admiring a breathtaking view, and watching the sizzling sunset evoke emotions. Willa Cather effectively evokes emotions in the reader, in order to relate to the characters’ feelings, by providing vivid descriptions of the setting, as well as through the reactions of Jim.
From the start of the novel to the very end, descriptions of the Jim’s environment reflect his feelings. Jim, being sent away, comments:
I do not remember crossing the Missouri River, or anything about the long day’s journey through Nebraska. Probably by that time I had crossed
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It seems as though Jim lost the world and does not care to return to it. At this point, the reader begins to pity Jim, wanting to comfort him while adding to the setting “in a little room, scarcely larger than the bed that held me, and the window-shade at my head was flapping softly in a warm wind,” (Cather 14). Once awaken in his grandparents’ house, Jim is greeted with both comforts and unbefitting circumstances.
Nevertheless, Jim’s sadness begins to lift, the more acquainted with his family and his surroundings he becomes. Jim’s mood apparently lightens:
As I entered the kitchen I sniffed a pleasant smell of gingerbread baking. The stove was very large, with bright nickel trimmings... (Cather 15)
The brightness of the descriptions changes the tone of Jim’s thoughts and attitude towards his family. The next morning , Jim decides to go outside and view his new home. He looks out and is pleasantly surprised by what he sees: a scene which rids the dark and cold of the prior night. He is no longer alone because of his fulfilling family and his new friend,
Antonia.
The emotions of loneliness, sadness, awe, and happiness are felt through out the story, but most strongly within the first few scenes. The descriptions of landscape help bring the reader into character's mind, experiencing their emotions. Each description of the
characters’
Musing on his adolescent years, he reminisces; “What was there for me to do after supper? Usually I had learned next day’s lessons by the time I left the school building, and I could n’t sit still and read forever. In the evening I used to prowl about, hunting for diversion”, and “One could hang about the drug-store, and listen to the old men who sat there every evening, talking politics and telling raw stories. One could go to the cigar factory and chat with the old German who raised canaries for sale, and look at his stuffed birds” (105, 106) Jim’s socioeconomic status created a singular expectation of him; furthering his education, a task naturally simple for him, allowing him nearly limitless free time to wander the town, witnessing everything around
Introduction: To me, the character of Jim Burden seems to be a odd. Although he appears to be childhood friends with the narrator, there is still misunderstandings between them. For example, Jim wrote a whole book instead of just bring notes. I can infer that Jim had a deeper relation with Antonia than the narrator did. The relationship that Jim has with is wife is also strange. Genevieve appears to just be using Jim to gain the title of married. There is no reason for her to marry him, and the narrator never mentioned any love between them. However, I do admire some of Jim’s attributes. I am fond of his adventurous personality. I do find it ironic that a lawyer is a bold adventurer, for lawyer are normally boring and heavily into reading the laws. It will be interesting to see what Jim think of Antonia; since he changed the title to my Antonia like he owns her.
The life of Antonia Shimerdas, the main character in Willa Cather's My Antonia, could easily be judged a failure. Perhaps measures of wealth, career, beauty and love fall short when held next to Antonia. If one could categorize life by that unnamable light or spirit which Antonia never loses, she would surpass all who belittle her achievements in other areas.
Jim is an orphan that moved from Virginia to Nebraska at the age of 10 year after his parents died.
-Jim again happens to believe in the beginning of the book that he was abducted by witches and even tells stories. Huck thinks he’s crazy, but then again in Douglass’ book the whites mistaken songs for happiness, so maybe Jim isn’t as crazy as first thought.
Eve strolled through the foggy mist back to her apartment, alone, but this time, she is as calm as the streets at night. Eve is desperately trying to find words to say to her little brother John. Eve cries at the fact that John will grow up with no siblings and no parents, but she is a little relieved as they do have a loving aunty. As Eve approaches the door to the apartment, she wipes the tears off her face as she does not want John to see her miserable and upset. To Eve’s surprise, John is fast asleep with the cold still in his eyes. With Eve still looking down at John, she has a small smirk on her face as she has realised that this was the first time John has slept peacefully in a very long time. The midnight breeze blows
Now sitting straight up, the boy, well, didn’t do much else. In fact, he just wanted to go back to sleep, where his dreams could take him away once more, to the realm where he was home. That he could be with his friends again, both old and new, that maybe, just maybe, life could be normal again.
He put on a sad smile, then fixed his eyes on a turbulent scenery behind the glass. Contrary to the outside, a soundproof cabin was completely noiseless and conveyed a sentiment similar to being entranced with a heavy, autumn rain and its cloudy, grey sky, while taking a shelter in your personal, secluded room.
Jim from The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn starts the novel as a simple and trusting slave working for Miss Watson. However, when he comes to learn that he will be sold down South, taken away from his family, he decides to run-off, where he encounters Huck Finn. This is the moment that the central conflict of the novel starts, that being Jim’s quest to find his way to freedom along with Huck Finn. Jim’s characterization shines through as one of the major attractions of the book. He is loyal, choosing to stay with Huck throughout their time together, and compassion, which is seen numerous times later in the novel. This specific set of traits that the author chose to ascribe to the character of Jim is what shapes the larger motifs of the novel,
In the novel My Antonia, the young American boy, Jim, falls in love with a british girl named Antonia. Antonia traveled to America from Great Britain to make a career out of her art. She loved to paint, and in Britain, painting wasn't considered a talent such as music and cooking. Jim only knows that Antonia was beautiful and kind. What he doesn't know is that the british girl has a broken heart, and that soon he will dedicate his entire life to make her happy again.
He slipped out from the messy sheets, a tired yawn as his feet sank lightly into the below carpets. He reached for the lamp by the bedside table, a soft click as the room was warmly illuminated in its glow. Getting up onto his feet, he drew the curtains slightly to
As we pulled out of the parking lot and onto the road, I couldn’t help but feel a comforting warmth enter my body, even through all of the silence in the car. I was finally going to be home with my family, the place we belonged. It was small and it was not the most attractive of houses, but it was cozy and it had been mine.
Because the narrator and protagonist is Huckleberry Finn all the development that Jim experience has to go through Huck’s experience and eyes. When you first meet Jim, he is a stumbling block for Huck, an obstacle and challenge to overcome. In order to become a member of Tom Sawyer’s newest gang, Huck must sneak out of the house without anyone knowing that he was gone. When the boys try to leave the yard, they stumble upon Jim, who is sleeping under a tree. By accident Huck and Tom wake Jim up from his slumber, when he becomes an obstacle to get around so that they can leave without being caught by Widow Douglas and Miss Watson. Jim is just a slave that got in their way, not a man to be trusted or even liked in the situation. When the reader
Jim is a runaway slave that Huck is helping, and this leads Huck to underestimate him, even though Huck acknowledges the fact that Jim is smart multiple times. Jim is presented in the beginning of the book as at most, a side character. No one really expects anything amazing out of him, including Huck and the reader. But as the adventure picks up, the views of Jim from Huck and the reader quickly divide. Mark Twain separates himself from the book altogether on the first page
The moonlight softly fell upon the dark room. The light bring back the little life Jackson´s room has left. His soft brown hair fell down just below his eyes. Jackson enjoys sleeping every night. Most little boys his age would want to stay up as late as possible. Jackson would never know what that is like. He would never be able to play among the children. Many people find it unusual that Jackson doesn't do what other kids do. Jackson wishes he can go out with the kids, play games or maybe just talk. All he wants is one friend. Just one. Especially tonight.