She is especially conceited and nasty with Mrs. Burden. Some instances that prove this are when she sees the pots that the Burden family has and brags that if she had the same material possessions she could do better in making the most use of them. She is portrayed as jealous upon her first visit to the Burden family's home. She examines the interior decorations of the house and complains to her daughter. Mrs. Shimerda is the money-hungry, dignified woman, whose hopes revolve around the moneymaking abilities of her eldest son. This supports that women are supposedly materialistic. Mrs. Harling's emotional qualities are introduced to us in book two. She is described as, "quick to anger, quick to laughter, and jolly from the depths of her soul" (Cather 96). You do not hear men described in these terms. Men are always described as rugged, quiet, wise, and violent. Mrs. Harling portrays Mother Nature when she is gardening. The children felt separated once she took on the task of planting. Mrs. Harling plays the role of the peacekeeper when her husband was at home. She turned all her attention to him. She was at his beck and call placing her in the role of the servant. Mrs. Harling also seems to be stuck up and prissy, like the personality of a cat when she is contrasted to Mrs. Shimerda. She is critical of Lena Lingard's personality and behaviors. She gossips about the hired girls with her friends. This is stereotypically a female trait. Antonia also fits into the typical female roles at different stages. In the section of the novel that parallels a scene in the Garden of Eden, Antonia plays the helpless damsel in distress. She clings to Jim and feeds his self-image by stating how brave he is.
