The Pioneer Woman’s Story

Part four, The Pioneer Woman's Story, of My Antonia, by Willa Cather has one major theme that carries throughout the entire part, and that theme is that happiness can be found even in times of sadness. In each small chapter, Jim narrates stories that support this theme. In the first chapter, Jim returns from Harvard to the small town of Black Hawk, Nebraska. When he is there, he is met by his close family and friends, giving him great joy and happiness. "Before I entered the Law School I went home for the summer vacation. On the night of my arrival, Mrs. Harling and Frances and Sally came over to greet me. Everything seemed just as it used to be. My grandparents looked very little older…When we gathered in grandmother's parlour, I could hardly believe that I had been away at all." When Jim hears of Antonia's situation, he is sad and disappointed, and he sets his mind to seeing her again some time. Yet even Antonia in her failed marriage, loss of money, and working very hard in the fields cannot keep her down and depressed. She finds joy in her little baby girl, Martha. She cares for her daughter greatly and turns out to be an excellent mother. And finally, as the two friends meet again, Jim and Antonia are very happy and peaceful together. "She turned her bright, believing eyes to me, and the tears came up in them slowly, 'How can it be like that, when you know so many people, and when I've disappointed you so? Ain't it wonderful, Jim, how much people can mean to each other? I'm so glad we had each other when we were little.'" Antonia and Jim find happiness in their pasts when they were young and great friends. "As I went back alone over that familiar road, I could almost believe that a boy and girl ran along beside me, as our shadows used to do, laughing and whispering to each other in the grass." By remembering the past and all the good times then, the two friends find peace and happiness together.