Paul's Case by Willa Cather - Research Paper Example

Willa Cather's Lost Boy: 'Paul's Case' and Bohemian Tramping
2. Source type
Secondary

3. Source summary
Terrell Scott Herring’s article suggests that Paul distances himself from society. His lifestyle distances him from social confines, identity, and sexuality. Paul feels like somebody is constantly watching him and in consequence, he is subconscious. His excessive gestures and nervous tics perplex his faculty teachers. In addition, Herring presents the characteristics of other late nineteenth-century males in comparison to Paul.

4. How this will support my paper
The source is useful because it analyzes and explores Paul’s lifestyle. The author looks at Paul’s identity and sexuality in a wider context. In the end, it is easy to characterize Paul as a separate individual from society. The comparison supports my paper because I can relate Paul with other people in society and understand his identity in a neutral manner.

Source 3
1. Source title
Cather’s ‘Paul’s Case’

2. Source type
Secondary

3. Source summary
Sherry Crabtree’s article discusses the significance of flowers in "Paul's Case." His red carnation is perceivably a talisman, which alienates him from the world. Even so, his teachers see it as a source of defiance. For instance, he walks into class with a colorful shirt that does not show any remorse. The source also mentions several other instances of flowers, which also characterize Paul's desires and show his alienation from the world.

4. How this will support my paper
The source will support my paper because it will aid in understanding the role of the flower in Paul’s life. The role of the flower is quite confusing, but Crabtree provides insight on its purpose in his case. The flower defines his life and affirms his identity as an individual, and not a collective thinker. The source is also valuable because it expands the interpretation of the essay. In addition, it promotes an understanding of Paul's desire for beauty, his weaknesses, and his inability to adapt to his physical setting.

Source 4
1. Source title
A Wolfean Gallimaufry

2. Source type
Secondary

3. Source summary
This source is a 1943 letter in which Cather responds to Phillipson's questions about “Paul’s case”. Cather also explores the “desire for beauty” in which she affirms that there is beauty everywhere and so it cannot be thwarted or starved. She acknowledges that one can only achieve what one works for, no matter the duration it takes.

4. How this will support my paper
This will support my paper because it explores the concept of desire. It significantly relates to Paul’s case because he has a desire for the New York life, which he sees as better than Pittsburgh. . Paul desired for a better life, which he went to seek in New York. His desire for a better life defines his identity and desire to satisfy individual interests. The source supports the idea of identity and gives more insight into Paul’s alienation. Read More