The Forgotten Reaping-Hook: Sex in My Antonia

Abstract

UR PERSISTENT MISREADING of Willa Cather's A'ntonia rises from a belief that Jim Burden is a reliable narrator. Because we trust his unequivocal narrative manner, we see the novel as a splendid celebration of American frontier life. This is the view reiterated in a current critique of 'ntonial and in a recent comprehensive study of Cather's work: My A'ntonia shows fertility of both the soil and human beings. Thus, in a profound sense Antonia is the most affirmative book Willa Cather ever wrote. Perhaps that is why it was her favorite.2 Critics also elect it their favorite Cather novel: however, they regret its inconclusive structure, as did Cather when she declared it fragmented and unsatisfactory in form.3 David Daiches's complaint of twenty years ago prevails: that the work is flawed by irrelevant episodes and material of uncertain meaning.4 Both critical positions-that Antonia is a glorious celebration of American life and a defective work of art-must be reversed once we challenge Jim Burden's vision of the past. I believe we have reason to do so, particularly now, when we are making many reversals in our thinking. As soon as we question Jim's seemingly explicit statements, we see beyond them myriad confusions which can be resolved only by a totally new reading. This would impel us to reexamine Jim's testimony, to discover him a more disingenuous and self-deluded narrator than we supposed. Once we redefine his role, Antonia begins to resonate