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Willa Cather |
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Critics are virtually unanimous in their assumption that Cather is an important and successful novelist whose work is worthy of study and analysis. Traditional analyses of both the author and her creations continue to be undertaken, with particular reference to the FORMALIST, PSYCHOLOGICAL, and—often in the context of analysis of her apprentice work—BIOGRAPHICAL modes of approach. Since the mid-1980s, there has been an increasing feminist emphasis in Cather studies, with principal focus upon three basic GENDER issues in her life and work: 1) her depiction of man-woman relationships, especially within marriage; 2) her critical re-examination of traditional male (creative) and female (domestic) role stereotypes; 3) the nature of Cather's own sexuality, and its relationship to her fiction.
These and other modes can readily be applied to "Paul's Case." Given Cather's own pattern of relocating in increasingly urban and sophisticated communities, there is a certain relevance to the application of the BIOGRAPHICAL approach. Given what the contrasting cities are made to represent in the mind of the protagonist, a SOCIOLOGICAL approach might also be considered relevant. And the very title of the story seems to call for a PSYCHOLOGICAL analysis of its central character, just as the fact that a female author presents the viewpoint of a male protagonist leads naturally to a GENDER-based evaluation. But no matter what approach one takes to "Paul's Case," a word of caution is in order: Cather's intentions are much more subtle than they may appear. Just as with John Updike's "A & P," one should not automatically assume that the author identifies with and unequivocally endorses the attitudes of the youthful protagonist.
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