The hero for the novel My Antonia was an easy pick, Antonia, duh. It is a novel/fictional autobiography about her after all. The events that she endured in her life qualify her by far to be considered a hero. She was able to find strength and a voice from her father's suicide. Antonia skipped out on attending school and getting an education of her own in order to help provide for her family. "Sometime you will tell me all those nice things you learn at school, won't you, Jimmy (Cather 77)," she sympathetically asked. She was betrayed by her fiancé, but looked at the bright side of the situation, and that was the baby that they now shared. Antonia put up with all of these things plus the discrimination that came with being a foreigner in a country. Getting nasty looks and comments, was not uncommon for the poor girl, but this allowed her to create a tough outer shell. Luckily, she was able to meet a nice Bohemian man whom she married and started a family with. Being strong willed, honest, and beautiful, Antonia worked through all her hardships and came out on the top of this novel. The one trait that stuck with Antonia and was seen most throughout the novel was her maternal trait. She was very nurturing and motherly towards her siblings, which helped strengthen them. She was also able to use this when she was alone with child, and when she finally had the happy family that she always dreamed of.
From the beginning, Antonia was portrayed as being a sweet, young immigrant looking for a better life, but after experiencing reality and loss in America, we see her transition into a strong young lady. She continues to have hardships, but learns from them to continue to be a striving immigrant. In the end, she uses every up and down, struggle, and celebration that she has been through to be thankful with her happy family and great friends.
[Bibliography]
Cather, Willa. My Antonia. New York: Barnes & Noble, 2004. Print.
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