Date of Award
2006
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Arts in English Composition
Department
English
First Advisor
Doane, Margaret
Second Advisor
Newlin, Maureen
Third Advisor
Pigeon, Renée
Abstract
This thesis examines three male characters from Willa Cather's writing that epitomize the American Dream of professional and material success but they find no contentment once they achieve it. This disillusionment is particularly so with Cather's driven male professionals, Bartley Alexander (an architectural scholar), and Clement Sebastian (a critically acclaimed, international opera singer). Cather situates these characters at middle age and at the peak of their professional careers, which makes the examination of them an interesting study as to the effects of the encroaching modern age on successful men. This thesis begins with a brief overview of Cather's work, including scholarly criticism of each novel, progresses to the examination of her successful male characters, and concludes with the investigation of Cather as a Modernist writer.
Recommended Citation
Baker, Deena Michelle, ""What now?": Willa Cather's successful male professionals at middle age" (2006). Theses Digitization Project. 3167.
https://scholarworks.lib.csusb.edu/etd-project/3167
