Willa Cathers Short Story Pauls Case Essay example -- Willa Cather P

Willa Cathers Short Story capital of Minnesotas CaseIn Willa Cathers short theme capital of Minnesotas Case we learn of a young man who is fighting what he fears most to be as common and discernible as his world around him. How others perceive Paul only encourages him to contact his dream of escaping his monotonous lifestyle. Paul feels he is drowning in his everyday environment and his only breath of air is his savior the theater.Paul has very petty(a) interest in his class studies. This leaves him open to distraction and eventually criticism. Although Pauls appearance is that of a perfect gentleman, his teachers find his behavior unbefitting and unacceptable. The narrator draws particular attention to Pauls eyes describing them as remarkable for a certain hysterical brilliancy(Cather 245) this is followed by the retort of his teachers who find it peculiarly offensive in a boy(Cather 245). Pauls meeting with the schools principal continues as each of his teachers get an haz ard to voice their disgust with Paul. The whole time Paul stands there never losing his smile. This is dubbed irritating to the last degree (Cather 246). For Paul this is his sign of strength. He refuses to cease his teachers, of such simple minds, to tear at his soul. They have no intelligence of Pauls behavior and do not wish to learn. afterward the meeting his teachers felt remorse for their onslaught against this mere boy. One remarked on the similarity to a miserable street cat set at bay by a r...