Irony and Symbolism in Willa Cathers Pauls Case Essays -- Cather Pau

Irony and symbol in Willa Cathers capital of Minnesotas Case Pauls Case, by Willa Cather, is a story that deals with a schoolgirlish boy who does not feel that he lives a life beseem of him. Upon a close reading, it is evident that Pauls Case is ruled by sarcasm and symbolism, which are apparent in the story through the words of the narrator. The mockery woven through unwrap the text builds up to an epiphonic moment, a main paradox in the story, which reveals to the reader Pauls true nature. Paul believes that e preciseone around him is beneath him. He is convinced that he is superior to e genuinelyone else in his school and in his neighborhood. He is even condescending to his teachers, and shows an appalling heart of contempt for them, of which they are very aware. In one class he habitually sat with his exit shading his eyes in another he always looked out of the window during the recitation in another he made a running commentary on the lecture, with humorous intention. Paul wanted everyone to recall he was better than they were. Not only did he try to stage as if he were rich and important, his very actions displayed a great amount of disdain for everyone around him. Paul sees himself as superior. He carries himself with a autocratic countenance and air about him, apparent in the description Paul entered the faculty room suave and smiling. His attempts to portray himself as elegant is evident in the adornments with which he tries to accentuate his attire he wore an opal pin in his neatly knotted black fourin-hand, and a red carnation in his button-hole. The irony in Pauls self-delusion lies in the way he is, in reality, seen by the rest of the world. While he thinks that he is dapper and winning in his ornamented garb, t... ...ft who is actually honest. To Paul, the ultimate smirch in life is to be a wear of the upper class. Paul had to try very hard, and be very dishonest, to convey a certain image so that he would be accepted as a part of that class. At this moment, since the best place to be is the upper class, and if one must be dishonest to get hold of high social status, Paul wonders how there can be anyone in the world who is honest because everyone should be striving to be a part of the upper class. As far as Paul is concerned, his deceitful measures were an pleasing means for achieving his goal.Works Cited and ConsultedBrown M. & Crone R. Willa Cather the Woman and Her Works. New York Charles Scribners Sons. 1970.Cather, Willa. Pauls Case. The Norton Anthology of Short Fiction. Eds. R.V. Cassill and Richard Bausch. Shorter 6th ed. New York Norton, 2000. 198-207.