It goes without saying that two people of a similar age can be found in very dissimilar life situations, as is evident with Emil and Marie in Willa Cather’s O Pioneers!. Although there are numerous passages that illustrate this, one of the clearest examples is found when the two are discussing the former religions of their homelands, prior to the introduction of Christianity (pg. 59). Marie discusses pagan Bohemian tree worship with Emil in order to display the stagnancy and resignation found in her own life. The exchange between Emil and Marie is crafted in such a way that the two characters are directly contrasted, Emil’s attitude reflecting reckless abandon, and Marie’s forlorn resignation. Cather accomplishes this through her vivid symbolism concerning nature,…show more content… The day before, there was a heavy storm, which prevents the fields from being plowed. Thus, Frank is not present, leaving Marie and Emil alone to talk. This rainstorm has also allowed for a blooming set of flora in the backyard, leaving “the orchard a neglected wilderness,” (58). This environment full of lush fruit and flourishing flowers allows for vivid imagery, along with a not so subtle allusion to the biblical Garden of Eden. There are numerous varieties of plants in the scene, all fulfilling a different symbolic purpose that is relevant to the situation. In essence, there are two categories of plants when it comes to their overarching symbols: love and/or sexuality, and divinity. The most obviously significant allusion found in the flora is seen in Marie’s white mulberry tree. The tree alludes to the Roman poet, Ovid, as well as the many who use his work as inspiration (most famously Shakespeare), and symbolizes young, forbidden love, which ends in tragedy. Cather places these two lovers under the tree to illustrate the sin that their adulterous love entails, in addition to foreshadowing the
