Paul’s Case: A Study in Temperament by Willa Cather Essay examples --

A Symbolic PerceptionImagine being entrapped in a life that you did not feel you belonged in. That isthe story of capital of Minnesota in Pauls Case, written by Willa Cather. He lived in a suburbanhome where everyone seemed the same and there was a feeling of despair. Paul, whowas a young man, entangle that his father, teachers and classmates mis beneathstood him andtherefore were unworthy of his company. In the story there are many symbolicelements. Flowers, for instance, symbolize Pauls personality and life. The parallel mingled with the boy and the flowers is made by the author many times throughout theshort story.In the beginning of the story Paul has a meeting with the teachers of his coachbecause he was misbehaving. For the meeting Paul shows up wearing clothes thatwere a trifle outgrown . . . with a red carnation in his buttonhole (49). This shows his total contempt for authority because he is going to get disciplined and the teachers thought this was not properly significa nt of the contrite spirit befitting a boy under the ban of suspension (49). The flower he wore shows that he does not care about school or his teachers his teachers felt that his whole attitude was symbolized by his motion and his flippantly red carnation flower (50). The principal also noted his conceit as he left the meeting and bowed which was described to be a repetition of the scandalous red carnation (51). It is almost as if the flower is his strength and reminds him of his ne...