Paul’s Case: A Study in Temperament

NB: We do not resell your papers. Upon ordering, we do an original paper exclusively for you.

NB: All your data is kept safe from the public.

Table of Contents

Cather’s Paul’s case
“Paul had done things that were not pretty to watch, he knew”
Work Cited

Cather’s Paul’s case

Despite being written more than a century ago, Cather Paul’s case still raises an important topic of teens’ individuality, conformation to society norms, and parental expectations. Paul, the protagonist of the story, is a troubled adolescent, whose unsatisfactory behavior and failure to complete homework, lead to his expulsion from school. Frustrated by the dullness of the school curriculum, grey walls, and inability to show his eccentric personality, the boy finds his only pleasure in the work of an usher in a fancy concert hall. However, neither his father nor his teachers at school share his interest in the glamorous, luxury life of a big city. While Paul thrives on getting rich, moving to an expensive apartment, and working in the industry of art, his attitude toward ascetics seems a little shallow. “The natural nearly always wore the guise of ugliness, that a certain element of artificiality seemed to him necessary in beauty” (Cather 149). When admiring art, does Paul focus only on the artificial, trifling beauty, or does his attempts to get closer to the world of art signify his genuine willingness to rebel against the somber rules of reality?

“Paul had done things that were not pretty to watch, he knew”

Trying to follow his dream, the boy does not always act solemnly: “Paul had done things that were not pretty to watch, he knew” (Cather 152). However, can’t lying be justified when a person tries to achieve his lifelong goal? If Paul’s father, his friends, and teachers accepted his personality, sustaining and encouraging him instead of criticizing and mocking, the boy would not need to lie. In this case, dishonesty represents Paul’s unfortunate attempts to find a balance between society’s expectations and his true passion. Disappointed by the old order at home and school, the boy does not have another choice, but to escape and pursue his dreamt lifestyle. Does Cather include escape in the story to metaphorically draw readers’ attention to the problem of a child’s physical and psychological alienation? Left unheard and misunderstood, Paul, like thousands of children around the world, chooses to distance himself from those who value norms over individuality.

Work Cited

Cather, Willa. Paul’s Case: A Study in Temperament. New York: McClure, 1905.

Click Here To Order Now!

Paul’s Case: A Study in Temperament

Do you need this or any other assignment done for you from scratch?

We have qualified writers to help you.

We assure you a quality paper that is 100% free from plagiarism and AI.

You can choose either format of your choice ( Apa, Mla, Havard, Chicago, or any other)