In the short story "Paul's Case" by Willa Cather, the reader is introduced to a strange young man named Paul. Paul, obsessed with those living in the lap of luxury, continually tries to mentally escape the world around him. Paul's outlet is Carnegie Hall, where he works as an usher. Paul escapes here, losing himself in the music and the show. The story leads up to the events of Paul's suicide, after a brief fling in New York. Reading the story, it was a believable suicide, with many signs pointing towards illness and leading up to Paul's death. .
The story opens with Paul's teachers meeting Paul to discuss his recent suspension due to behavior problems. Paul shows up wearing, what turns out to be symbolic of Paul himself, a red carnation in his coat. This is seen by the teachers as an act of defiance. Later we find out that Paul wanted to show himself to be different from everyone there. After asked by the principle whether or not Paul would like to come back to school, he replies that he wanted to come back. "This was a lie, but Paul was quite accustomed to lying; found it, indeed, indispensable for overcoming friction" (Cather 197). Already we have a picture of Paul, someone who refuses to fit in, who feels himself to be something above all that is around him. Paul continues to consciously try to test the teachers with small gestures that seemed to be particularly effective at the job intended. "Paul was always smiling, always glancing about him, seeming to feel that people might be watching him and trying to detect something" (Cather 198). This habit of smiling was remarked upon by his teacher, "I don't believe that smile of his comes altogether from insolence; there's something sort of haunted about it. The boy is not strong for one thing. There is something wrong about the fellow" (Cather 199). These early remarks in the story already begin to foreshadow Paul's illness, as well as his ability to take his own life.
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. ... Paul did not enjoy working at Carnegie Hall. Paul did not enjoy seating the "early comers." ... In the end though, Paul never learned his lesson. ... The overpowering point of view in "Paul's Case" is third-person limited. ...
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. ...
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....
"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...
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...
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. ...
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. ...
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. ...
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. ...
