Paul's Case

            
             Willa Cather's, "Paul's Case," uses characterization, irony, and symbolism to tell the story of Paul, who never felt he belonged, but who never wanted to, either. Paul submerges himself in anything to do with art. All through his life, Paul tries to escape from his duties, and he finally escapes from life itself by committing suicide.
             Cather's use of characterization begins with her physical description of Paul. As Paul enters the principal's office, he is smiling and wearing a carnation in his button hole. Cather goes on to note that Paul is tall and thin, but it is her description of his eyes that is the most telling. "His eyes were remarkable for a certain hysterical brilliancy, and he continually used them in a conscious, theatrical sort of way, peculiarly offensive in a boy." Therefore, Paul was at least very feminine and probably homosexual. (4) This sets the tone for the whole story. Paul does not feel he belongs anywhere in his middle class, suburban life. He uses art to escape from all of what he feels, "is stupid and ugly in his existence." (4) Though he was "utterly without talent," he "hopelessly deluded" himself "into believing he can nourish himself through life." (5).
             Paul is also characterized as a compulsive liar. " . . . Paul was quite accustomed to lying; found it, indeed, indispensable for overcoming friction." (1) The friction he has to overcome is that in his quiet, suburban community, his homosexual feelings would never be accepted. Having lied about this for so long, everything else just comes natural. Eventually his lies cause him to be expelled from school. ().
             Paul's obsession with all forms of art is his only escape from life. His after school job at Carnegie Hall allows him to listen to music there, and he also enjoys visiting art museums by himself. This characterization of Paul overlaps into the element of irony.