Paul's Mediocre Demise

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Jacob Stewart Mrs. Hafner A.P. English 27 Sept. 2012 Paul’s Mediocre Demise John Lithgow once said “Everybody’s a dreamer” (SELFDEVELOPMENT). In the case of Willa Cather’s Paul, this was certainly true. Paul dreams about the luxuries of life, including concerts, theater, art, and flowers. He wants the beauty of such things to be weaved into every aspect of his being, causing him to live in an iridescent fashion. He loves the bustling vibe of the upper class. Paul soon finds out that he was not meant to live this buzzing lifestyle. As reality crashes down on him, Paul understands he will never be more than ordinary. The insurmountable disappointment of Paul’s mediocrity is too much for him to bear. This fact bores into his soul, causing Paul to lose his will to live. His frustration is the basis of Willa Cather’s short story, “Paul’s Case.” She uses selection of detail, diction, and symbolism to brilliantly characterize Paul as an ordinary boy who can not cope with his inability to achieve his goal. Willa Cather uses her selection of detail to show the average qualities Paul possesses. The features Cather exploits tell a lot about Paul’s character. She describes Paul as being “very tall and very thin, with high, cramped shoulders and a narrow chest. His eyes were remarkable for a certain hysterical brilliancy and he continually used them in a conscious, theatrical sort of way, peculiarly offensive in a boy” (257). When Cather describes Paul’s frail body, she uses specific details to make him seem extremely ordinary. His tall, thin stature is a common stereotype for lengthier people. His high, cramped shoulders and narrow chest give the visual of a confined person. His body is compacted into a narrow space, almost caving in on itself. The little amount of room Paul takes up represents the tiny amount of presence he possess, which correlates
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