Many tone, form, and subject matter shifts occurred in books in the early 20th century. Larger historical and cultural shifts influenced these alterations, such as industrialization, urbanization, and World War I. This paper will examine Willa Cather’s “Neighbor Rosicky” in light of these larger literary movements, paying special attention to how the story’s style, structure, and themes echo Cather’s contemporaries. I will analyze how Cather uses realism to portray the difficulties of rural farmers, how she places a premium on individuality and the freedom to express oneself and places special emphasis on the bond between humans and the natural world (Learning). This analysis will show how “Neighbor Rosicky” reflects literary trends of the early 20th century and sheds light on that era’s culture and history.
One of the most important movements in literary history occurred at the turn of the 20th century and was the transition toward realism. Writing published in the realist tradition attempted to show reality rather than trying to make reality conform to an ideal that the realists may have held. To paint a more accurate picture of the world, authors frequently focused their attention on the everyday struggles experienced by average citizens (Learning). This shift toward realism matched greater socioeconomic upheavals, such as increased industry and urbanization, which presented new opportunities and challenges to people. This shift also mirrored a shift toward a more positive outlook on life.
Another important literary movement that occurred at the beginning of the 20th century was an emphasis on individuality and the right to express oneself freely. As a result of industrialization and urbanization, there was a shift in the focus of literary works away from nature and toward the experience of humans. They tried to convey the complexities of human feeling and experience by drawing attention to individuals’ wide variety of perspectives and life experiences. This movement reflected larger socioeconomic shifts, such as society’s growing importance on individualism and consumer culture’s pervasiveness.
Writing from the early 20th century likewise emphasized the connection between humans and the natural environment. The relationship between humans and nature was investigated, and writers struggled with the effects of industrialization and urbanization on the natural world. They hoped to impress upon people the significance of environmental preservation and the need to defend the natural world from the destructive influences of humanity. This trend reflects increased awareness of the significance of conservation and sustainability.
Willa Cather’s “Neighbor Rosicky” indicates current literary fashions regarding structure, language, and subject matter. The story, which takes place in early 20th-century rural Nebraska, is told in a realistic tone and focuses on the hardships endured by farmers due to the rise of industry and urbanization (Rosowski). Anton Rosicky, the main character in our tale, is a Czech immigrant who has built a prosperous farming empire. However, now that old age and illness have caught up, he must accept his mortality and consider the mark he will leave on the world.
Cather uses the character of Rosicky to stress the value of uniqueness and free thought. Rosicky is a contemplative person who values his ties to the earth and the natural world. He values his role as a farmer and considers himself a land steward. (Rosowski) Cather highlights Rosicky’s unique perspective and experiences by emphasizing his Czech origin and the difficulties he has endured as an immigrant in America.
The story also emphasizes the connection between humans and the rest of nature. Cather paints a picture of the Nebraska environment that is beautiful and peaceful, but she also acknowledges the difficulties farmers confront when trying to produce the land. She stresses the significance of environmental preservation and the necessity of shielding the natural world from the destructive consequences of industrialization and urbanization.
Overall, “Neighbor Rosicky” reflects its day’s historical, cultural, and societal shifts. Many rural communities in the United States experienced economic hardship and population decline in the early 20th century as individuals left the countryside for urban centers to pursue employment opportunities (Rosowski). The story’s depiction of the hardships endured by farmers as a result of urbanization and industrialization reflects these broader shifts.
Overall, “Neighbor Rosicky” illustrates how literature reflects societal shifts in fashion, structure, and subject matter. The story’s emphasis on autonomy and self-expression, the connection between humans and the natural world, and its realistic manner all give insight into the early 20th century’s cultural and historical setting.
The short story “Neighbor Rosicky” by Willa Cather illustrates how literature mirrors cultural shifts in form, style, and subject matter. Cather gives us a glimpse into the early 20th-century culture and history through the story’s realistic manner, emphasis on autonomy and self-expression, and stress on the link between humans and the natural environment.
Cather uses realism to portray the hardships endured by farmers in the face of industrialization and urbanization. Rosicky, the story’s protagonist, is a farmer who contemplates the impact of globalization on his profession (Rosowski). He laments, “There are just so many cars and tractors now; the farms aren’t what they used to be” (Cather 205). This realization sheds light on the time’s broader economic and social shifts.
The value of being one’s person and saying what one wants is also emphasized throughout the narrative. Rosicky considers himself a steward of the earth because he appreciates nature and his place in it. He acknowledges the value of environmental protection by saying, “they’d taken so much out of the land” (Cather 210). The culture shifted in the early 20th century as people realized the importance of protecting the natural world, and this renewed focus on the individual’s connection to nature reflects that shift.
A further theme explored in “Neighbor Rosicky” is man’s place in the natural world. Cather paints a picture of the Nebraska environment that is beautiful and peaceful, but she also acknowledges the difficulties farmers confront when trying to produce the land (Olin-Ammentorp). She stresses the significance of environmental preservation and the necessity of shielding the natural world from the destructive consequences of industrialization and urbanization. According to Rosicky: “It takes a long time to get the land properly, and then they trash it in no time” (Cather 206).
To sum up, “Neighbor Rosicky” by Willa Cather relates to the greater historical, cultural, and societal events of the early 20th century by its realistic style, stress on autonomy and self-expression, and concentration on the link between humans and the natural world. Modernization and industrialization have made life difficult for farmers, and this narrative shows us why protecting the land for future generations is so crucial. The concepts and storytelling in “Neighbor Rosicky” are universal, making the film profoundly examine the human condition.
Works Cited
Learning, Gale, Cengage. “A Study Guide for Willa Cather’s ‘Neighbor Rosicky.’” Google Books, Gale, Cengage Learning, 2017, www.google.co.ke/books/edition/A_Study_Guide_for_Willa_Cather_s_Neighbo/qku2DAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Willa+Cather%27s+%22Neighbor+Rosicky%22&pg=PT29&printsec=frontcover. Accessed 21 Mar. 2023.
Margaret Emily, Marquis. “The Producing Male Body in Willa Cather’s ‘Neighbour Rosicky’. – Free Online Library.” Www.thefreelibrary.com, 2005, www.thefreelibrary.com/The+producing+male+body+in+Willa+Cather%27s+%22Neighbour+Rosicky%22.-a0131132219. Accessed 21 Mar. 2023.
Olin-Ammentorp, Julie. “Edith Wharton, Willa Cather, and the Place of Culture.” Google Books, Google, 20 Mar. 2019, https://books.google.co.ke/books?hl=en&lr=&id=H2GnDwAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PR11&dq=Cather%2Bpaints%2Ba%2Bpicture%2Bof%2Bthe%2BNebraska%2Benvironment%2Bthat%2Bis%2Bbeautiful&ots=t81ezHjW1S&sig=mIlKLWHmnvuteLxaEXDrKXd0WVM&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=Cather%20paints%20a%20picture%20of%20the%20Nebraska%20environment%20that%20is%20beautiful&f=false.
Rosowski, Susan J. “Cather, Willa.” Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Literature, 26 July 2017, https://oxfordre.com/literature/display/10.1093/acrefore/9780190201098.001.0001/acrefore-9780190201098-e-600.
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