In the beginning of chapter IX, book II of My �ntonia by Willa Cather, Jim explains the �curious social situation in Black Hawk� (132). Jim tells of the preference for the �Hired Girls� that the boys of Black Hawk have. Instead of desiring the well dressed, polite, feminine upper-class girls, the boys were more attracted to the young women who had struggled and pulled their family out of tragedy through tough and rigorous work. Of these young women, Jim states, �Physically they were almost a race apart, and out-of-door work had given them a vigor which, when they got over their first shyness on coming to town, developed into a positive carriage and freedom of movement, and made them conspicuous among Black Hawk women� (132). These women exemplified strength, courage, and freedom and seemed an indicator of the things that would change in America concerning all women- for example women got the right to vote two years after this book was published, in 1920.
On page 186 the subject of marriage is brought up between Jim and Lena . Jim expects that she will do as most girls do and eventually marry however Lena defiantly states that she doesn’t want a husband and says �I would prefer to be foolish when I feel like it, and be accountable to nobody� (187). This echoes the sentiment of the change in women for this time. Women wanted more control over their own lives and refused to be ruled by men as they were previously. The movement for women’s right to use birth control even started during this period, which was another way women could take control over their own bodies and lives instead of being the subject to men. The source of this courage for independence is even addressed in Jim and Lena ’s conversation on that day. Of her family life as a child Lena remembers, �I never had a minute to myself except when I was off with the cattle� and �It wasn’t my mothers fault. She would have made us comfortable if she could. But that was no life for a girl!� (187). Lena ’s mother might not have been able to do anything, but Lena decided that she would not have this sort of family life again.
�ntonia also asserts her freedom and independence like Lena when she leaves the Harlings because they want to strip her of the one thing that she loved. She tells the Harlings, �A girl like me has got to take her good times when she can� (138). �ntonia understands her place in this society but is also not completely submissive about it and stands up for herself. While working for the Cutters Mr. Cutter intricately plans to rape �ntonia. He is trying to assert his control over �ntonia and reinforce her place as submissive to him. However, �ntonia is observant and uses her brain to detect that something will happen and goes to Jim and his grandmother about it. Mr. Cutter’s plan fails though and even the idea of the plan fails to meet his goal of scaring �ntonia into submission. Of his plan she states, �I feel as if he is up to some of his tricks again, and is going to try to scare me, somehow� (160). It is important that she uses the word �try� because she is not scared of him. It is because she is a hired girl, a strong girl that �ntonia is not fearful of Mr. Cutter and refuses to take the normal subservient role as a woman.
Class Written For : English 3072 (American Literature)
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