Artistic Light
What meaning does art hold in the lives of people? Is it simply available for entertainment, or to display power and prestige? On the other hand, is art the personification of light and happiness in one's life? In "Paul's Case" by Willa Cather, Paul sees the world of art as an escape from reality and his "real" life. Paul is not content with his dreary life on Cordelia Street in Pittsburgh. He escapes the drabness through his work as an usher at Carnegie Hall. He dreams of living the life of the performers he sees there. Paul loses himself in the music of the symphonies, the characters of the plays, and in the artful scenery. His fantasies become much more important than his real life. For example, Paul does not concentrate on his studies and he is taken out of school and must begin working to support himself. Stealing money from his new place of employment, Paul leaves Pittsburgh for glamorous New York City. Paul lives the life of his dreams for a few days before his money runs out. When he realizes that he would have to return home and accept his punishment, he kills himself. "Paul's Case" by Willa Cather illustrates the power of art in one's life through symbols of light and dark.
Street conveys a general symbol and aura of despair. Cordelia Street itself is littered with soot, dirt, cookie cutter houses, and city-dwellers. Paul's house is full of hopelessness and futility. Most importantly Paul's room illustrates an "ugly sleeping chamber" (271). Paul despises his room so much that is it reduced to a sleeping chamber, not a room that one could "hang out" in. His room is covered in "horrible yellow wallpaper" (270). The wallpaper is dingy, and signifies the dismal atmosphere of Paul's home life. Even Paul's bed tells the reader something about him. The bed is covered in chipping paint that hides the real beauty of the wood. On the outside, Paul is weak with his shyness, but underneath the paint is a strong young man who achieves his dreams. However, Paul feels held back by the gloominess of Cordelia Street. He cannot fully express himself in his love for art because of his father's abuse. Paul's father is a dark symbol of life on Cordelia Street. Paul is frustrated at home because his father wants him to grow up to work in a factory like most of his neighbors do. His father despises Paul's obsession with art. Therefore, the reader can understand Paul's fear to return home when he is late one evening and had not stopped at home between school and the theater. Many children have seen the image of their parent at the top of the stairs-waiting to punish them-when they have transgressed, but Paul's fear is palpable. He does not want to face his father's "inquiries and reproaches" (271) because he is scared of him. Paul would rather lie to his father the next day than to face him that night. Paul is convinced that if he had told his father what happened, his father either would not have believed him, or would not have understood. Sneaking into the basement through an open window, Paul thinks about what would happen if his father heard him. He fears his father would think that he is a burglar a
Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1311
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)
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