Antonia's Mannish Behavioral Transition in Willa Cather's Novel My Antonia

Abstract

This paper aims to study Antonia's character and  her mannish behavioral  transition  throughout the novel entitled My Antonia. Willa presents Antonia who shows her resolution and courage in facing and dealing with personal dilemmas and social circumstances. Willa portrays Antonia, who struggles in the new society and culture by working hard in changing the salty land of Nebreska and her destiny . Working in salty land day and night forces Antonia to lose her tender behavior and her  beauty as a woman is changed too. She achieves her goals to live with her family in a new place with a dignity and respect though she looks like a man in her strength and body built . Willa Cather tries to explain that the major  figure in her novel,Antonia,  is characterized by  strength, fortitude, and resolution. She is  able to face difficulties of life and never surrender to them.