Jim's first impression of his harsh and primitive new surroundings led him to conclude that there was only land and no country (p. 11). He did not say his prayers the first night because he felt that there, in Nebraska, "what would be would be" (p. 11). Cather does a great job at almost making the land a person, and more or less a constant danger which the residents must face and conquer. In doing so, she sets us up to admire those that will be able to conquer it--presumably, Antonia.
Jim saw that all land, no country place to be "the material out of which countries are made" (p. 11). If that is the case, then people like Jim's family as well as the Shimerdas and other immigrants are the people that made the country. Cather generally portrays a sympathy instead of hostility for the immigrant farmers and recognizes them for their efforts, courage, and determination. Even though we learn the awful facts about Pavel's past, we still respect at least Peter--not only for being a nice guy, but for his success in growing melons, cucumbers, and owning a cow. Peter and Pavel may be bad, and they have may ultimately failed, but they worked the land and at least left a house standing. We hate Krajiek of course, but we don't hate him for being a foreigner--we hate him for cheating other foreigners. I also like that Jim's grandmother felt an obligation to help the Shimerdas because they were brothers and sisters; it didn't matter where they came from (p. 51).
I like that even though Cather is writing about a time when farmer immigrants were probably poorly regarded and was perhaps writing during a time when the same feeling and prejudices probably prevailed, she doesn't carry the same blanket hostility toward the immigrants. And I also like that her main characters (Jim and the grandmother) also do not have any prejudicial hostility toward the immigrants.
It seems like one theme in this book is an individual's reaction to challenges. Antonia seems to cheerfully bear every challenge, the mother bears the challenges but is pretty grouchy and complainy about it, and the poor dad can't even seem to face the challenges.
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I think that we also hate Krajiek because he is a foreigner who cheats foreigners. He has no compassion or kindness, working and dealing only to benefit himself. Perhaps it's a comment from Cather on others' view of the American ideal and how to obtain it.
Her portrayal of immigrants makes me think of the immigrants of our day. I don't want that to become an issue in our discussion but isn't that the author's purpose? Think about these themes in our lifetime. That is why the book is a classic, it's a book for all times.
We hate Krajiek because he lacks honor to benefit himself. But I wonder then, where does Wick Cutter fall in this area?
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