My Antonia - American Dream

In My Antonia, Willa Cather focused on depicting ethnic values of the different cultures of the various immigrants who came to Nebraska. These people had to face the hardships, the plight, and the conditions of life on the rural Nebraska prairie land of late nineteenth century America. We might wonder: what makes these foreign people come to the US despite of all these difficulties? The answer to this question will surely explain what the American …

…her sons stood tall and straight. She was a rich mine of life, like the founders of early races¡± (p. 229). Antonia stands for the undefeated strength, power, and spirit of the pioneers. She not only displays a great physical strength, but also an inner spiritual one. Antonia may have given up something for her marriage but from another point of view, she has gained much¡ªa loving husband, eleven children and the pride of accomplishment.