The setting of My Antonia -- life on the Nebraskan prairie in the late 19th century -- influences the life of Antonia Shimerda, one of the protagonists of the novel. Antonia is an immigrant to Black Hawk, Nebraska from Bohemia, and lives in a sodhouse with her relatively large family in unfavorable conditions and low economic status. Despite this harsh environment, and the societal values of the time, Antonia becomes an independent woman who works hard to help her family out. The setting of the novel plays no small part in shaping her unique personality; the prairie, a wide-open sprawl of grass and corn fields open to use and profit from by any enterprising individual motivated enough, symbolizes opportunity and freedom, which was not offered…show more content… While she works in the home as a hired girl, she still values being tough and independent. These priorities come to light when she leaves the Harlings, the family she works for, after they threaten to kick her out if she continues to dance with the boys. Antonia, being a strong, independent woman, tells them she will leave, and work with the hated Wick Cutter, saying that she didn’t care because she is “a lot stronger than Cutter is,” (Cather 133). The independence and the strength of Antonia, given by her decision to move on from the Harlings and to work with the wretched Wick Cutter, are byproducts of the setting of the town of Black Hawk. Had there been no other work opportunities offered in town, and had Antonia not been brought up with an independent, hard-working mindset, she would not have ditched the Harlings, let alone claim that she was stronger than Wick…show more content… By working on the family farm with her brother Ambrosch, she exerts her strength and independence from traditional roles for the first time. Also, by leaving the Harlings and choosing to work with Wick Cutter instead, despite Cutter being a deplorable figure in town, shows Antonia’s defiance of the orders of people above her when it clashes with her priorities, a manifestation of her strength and independence. Had Antonia stayed in Bohemia, never to experience the hardships and the vast opportunities of Black Hawk, she may not have been the defiant, hard-working woman that she is known
