What is ‘Modernist’ about Cather’s My Antonia Essay

Modernism focuses on removing literature from the safety of nineteenth century conventions and propelling new ideas on how and what to write into the literary domain. In ‘My Antonia’, Cather embodies the push for new literary techniques as she revolutionises the practises of the novel and challenges the conformist society of capitalist America. This can be seen in her narrative technique, anti-Victorian views and character symbolism. The modernity of ‘My Antonia’ can be seen through the narrative style used by Cather. The opening narrative sets the scene for a nostalgic reminiscence of Antonia’s life and delivers background information on Jim. It is through the initial framing narrative that we acquire Jim’s manuscript. This forms a†¦show more content†¦Moreover, the unknown narrator’s acknowledgment of the manuscript to the audience shows the self reflexivity of the novel. In effect, Cather is breaking the fourth wall of the story to fracture the audience’s relation with the narration and allow them to form their own meaning from Jim’s story. This is also repeated when Jim returns to Black Hawk and seeks to learn Antonia’s story from the Widow, Mrs Harling declares that ‘the Widow Steavens is a good talker, and she has a remarkable memory.’(Cather 899). This is a clear signal to the audience that the widow is a ficelle and is purposeful ly presented as a source of information for Jim, thus we will be seeing Antonia through the Widows eyes and with her prejudices. The Widow’s recount of events form a scene of analepsis (Genette 162) which further fragments the timeline of the narrative as Jim learns of Antonia’s actions long after the event has passed. This can be seen as modernist because realist writers would have attempted to disguise their ficelles. Therefore, Cather’s narrative style is modernist as it defies the traditions of the classic realist novel. The narration in Jim’s manuscript can be seen as passive because dramatic events are often in the background. For example, the death of Mr. Pavel, the suicides of Mr. Shimerdas and the Tramp are not directly experienced by Jim,Show MoreRelated Innocence in Daisy Miller, My Antonia, and the Great Gatsby Essay2118 Words   |  9 PagesInnocence in Daisy Miller by Henry James, My Antonia by Willa Cather and the Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. It is not as easy as it seems to distinguish who is innocent and who is not. Innocence is a cultural concept which is usually confusing. An act that is naà ¯ve and normal in one society can be a public disgrace in another. Then a question comes to mind: What is innocence? Challenging the norms of a society makes a person totally wicked? What spoils or preserves innocence? The word innocence