" More than any other person we remembered, this girl seemed to mean to us the country, the conditions, the whole adventure of our childhood (Cather 2)."" .
In the introduction the author is on a train with Jim Burden talking about Antonia in saying this, Jim is telling the author that Antonia made him who he is today. She has a special way of shining through everyone everybody she meets. This quote sets the tone for the novel and describes her throughout her life. It can be useful throughout time for all friends who become a hero in one's life.
" Now, don't you go and be a fool like some of these town boys. You're not going to sit around here and whittle store boxes and tell stories all your life. You are going away to school and make something of yourself. I'm just awful proud of you (Cather 143)."" .
At the time of this quote much has already taken place, such as, Jim's arrival in Nebraska as an orphan at 10. He will now live on a farm close to Antonia's. They become great friends and spend all their time together until a great tragedy occurs. Antonia's father takes poverty hard and is very homesick for his homeland. Because he cannot take it, he kills himself changing Antonia's life forever. The English lessons given by Jim are no more, as Antonia has to work on the farm. After a while working on the farm just isn't cutting it anymore, so when the Burden's move to the city for Jim's education they find a good home for Antonia to work at. At the time of the quote Antonia is trying to tell Jim to go away for school to get the best education possible. She loves him dearly, and will miss him but at the same time, wants the best for him. It's hard for her to think of him wasting away in this town remembering the good ol' days'. Antonia knows that Jim has potential to be great and is just so proud to even know him. .
Many times this quote can relate to parents sending their children off to college.