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Paul's Case

            
             "Paul's Case, by Willa Cather, is the story of a young man named Paul, whose appetite for a life filled with riches lead him to stealing and to his ultimate self demise. After being suspended from school and sent to work Paul has the opportunity to pocket one-thousand dollars. After doing so he embarks on a journey to New York where all his superficial desires are fulfilled. When the realization sets in that he has reached the pinnacle of his being and the only place to go is down and back to the life he so desperately tried to escape he stares down the barrel of a pistol. But he hasn't the balls to pull the trigger and suicide finds him in the form of a freight train. Cather implies that people often feel a lack of self-worth once they conceive the fact that their ambitions are unattainable. Cather also indicates that people often covet that in which they cannot attain.
             Paul is continually driven to his actions by the desire to be perceived as those who sit on the top step of their "stoop" along Cordelia Street. Throughout the story the Narrator gives the evidence of Paul's feeling that he was dealt a hand in which he didn't deserve. Paul did not enjoy working at Carnegie Hall. Paul did not enjoy seating the "early comers." However, what Paul did enjoy and what gave him satisfaction was when the light dimmed and he sunk down into his chair and pretended that he was one of "them." This desire to become a citizen of higher class is what inevitably became his fatal flaw. .
             Paul is continually bugged with the burden of not being in the in-crowd. Paul wants to wear nice overcoats and wear fresh carnations in his buttonhole and go to symphonies and leave the country for a vacation and hang out with the artists he admires. But unfortunately for Paul, he was not born into the life that he wishes he was. Paul's flaw was that he was not happy with himself, and he would do anything to get out of the life that he was living which ultimately led him to stealing.


Essays Related to Paul's Case

1. Paul's Case

The short story "Paul's Case" by Willa Cather illustrates the problems of a young man, named Paul, growing up and taking on the responsibility of finding out who he is, and what he wants from life. ... Some of the major symbols present in "Paul's Case" are: the flowers, Cordelia street, the Carnegie Hall, and Paul's house. ... They symbolize Paul throughout the story. ... This declares Paul's independence from the other students, and shows that Paul is different than the other students at his school. ... It symbolizes the life that Paul dreams of having. ...

  • Word Count: 457
  • Approx Pages: 2
  • Grade Level: High School

2. Paul's Case

Elements of "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. ... Paul does not feel he belongs anywhere in his middle class, suburban life. ... " (5) Paul is also characterized as a compulsive liar... This characterization of Paul overlaps into the element of irony....

  • Word Count: 336
  • Approx Pages: 1
  • Grade Level: High School

3. Paul's Case

"The Cause-Effect Essay" PAUL"S CASE In the short story of Willa Cather, Paul's Case, there is only one main character whose name is Paul and all the events occur around him. Because of some supporting deficiencies like emotions and wealth, the story ends in tragedy and Paul commits suicide. ... Generally, Paul has some psychological problems and they reflect to his environment. ... Another important cause of Paul's death is his father's abuse and thoughtlessness of him. In the most important term of Paul's need of support, his father is not beside him, and h...

  • Word Count: 352
  • Approx Pages: 1
  • Grade Level: High School

4. Pauls Case

Paul's Case By Willa Cather Analyzing Paul of "Paul's Case" In the story "Paul's Case," Paul's behavior is nonchalant, but yet respectful at times. ... Paul's peers and father think other - wise. ... His father does not approve of Paul asking for money knowing that Paul has a job. Paul should be able to pay for his own carfare but Paul's father gives Paul the money, trusting that Paul is going out to study, but instead Paul goes to theater to escape from his everyday life of school and his community... Paul did not let anybody pull him down from his dreams a...

  • Word Count: 1149
  • Approx Pages: 5
  • Grade Level: High School

5. Pauls Case

In Willa Cather's short story Paul's Case we learn of a young man who is fighting what he fears most: to be as common and plain as his world around him. ... For Paul this is his sign of strength. ... However none of this affected Paul. ... Paul's home life was not the least different. ... I observed a correlation between Willa Cather's Paul's Case and William Shakespeare's classic tragedy Romeo and Juliet. ...

  • Word Count: 983
  • Approx Pages: 4
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: High School

6. Paul's Case

Character Essay on "Paul's Case" This is a story of a young man that lived in a world in which he felt he did not belong. ... Paul appeared to take pride in his ability to lie to his teachers. ... The principal spoke of his concern with Paul's father about Paul's fascination with the theater. Paul's father spoke with Paul's employer and told him that Paul was not to walk through the doors of his establishment. This crushed Paul's dream and only fed his unstable state of mind. ...

  • Word Count: 519
  • Approx Pages: 2
  • Grade Level: High School

7. PAULS CASE

In the story "Paul's Case," I would agree that the character of Paul is what makes the reading as interesting and exciting as it is. As far as his physical appearance goes, "Paul was tall for his age and very thin, with high cramped shoulders and a narrow chest. ... (pg.109) Paul is in high school, so we can deduce that he is a teenager. ... As we read on further we find that Paul is a very complex character indeed. ... It's ironic that Paul wants to live a rich and refined life but the way he goes about it is by stealing and lying. ...

  • Word Count: 421
  • Approx Pages: 2
  • Grade Level: High School

8. Pauls Case

Willa Cather's, "Paul's Case," is a short story about a young man whose obsessions and fantasies lead others to believe that he is a blatant liar, drug addict, and a peculiar individual. ... Immediately after school, Paul would hurry to the theatre where he worked as an usher. ... This was Paul's fairy tale a secret love." ... Here is where Paul found his success and freedom most valued. ... Paul is an eccentric individual that is highly critical of reality. ...

  • Word Count: 851
  • Approx Pages: 3

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