Monday, March 9, 2009
The Plough and the Sunset
Late in Book II, Jim and Antonia go back to the country for a picnic. They spent the day in the warm sun, listening to the bees hum, observing the scrub-oak trees, looking down on the town of Black Hawk from the chalk bluffs. As the sun sets they see a curious thing: "on some upland farm a plough had been left standing in the field. The sun was sinking behind it. [ . . . ] exactly contained within the circle of the disk; the handles, the tongue, the share - black against the molten red. There it was, heroic in size, a picture writing on the sun" (156). This is the central image (symbol) of the book. Reread pp.155-156. What does this symbol mean? What is its significance to Cather's view of Nebraska?
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This symbol is of hope. The hope of the American dream. During this time, many people were heading out West to start over and farm. Because everybody wanted to go there the hope was large and big for everyone, but as it is revealed in this novel through Mr. Shimerda, the hope can easily slip away. Cather's view of Nebraska is obviously hopeful and wonderful, but it can also easily slip away. The plow symbolizes the hard work that has to be done in order to achieve this hope.
ReplyDeleteI think the plow represents a future of prosperity that hard work will bring on the horizon. It shows Nebraska is a place that requires work to survive.
ReplyDeleteThe plough is a symbol of hope for all the people trying to move West.
ReplyDeletethis symbol symbolizes the true meaning of the american dream. many ppl had hope. i think that the plow is the symbol of nebraska itself and this is a symbol of hope. the sun is setting on it and this shows that they still have hope in there lives but their hope has faded a little
ReplyDeletethe plough and a symbol is a positive symbol that gives them hope for a prosperous future. they know it is going to be a hard life but if they don't give up and perservere they have the oppertunity to suceed.
ReplyDeleteThis plow that they see symbolizes the way people and the land have come together as one. Cather feels that the land will over-power humans eventually. This is described by the way the plow seems to get smaller compared to the land as Jim and Antonia move away.
ReplyDeleteThe plow represents the people of Nebraska and the hard work that goes into maintitaing it. And also the American Dream because there is always hope in the american dream. Anyone can do anything or be anyone.
ReplyDeleteLUke ROman
It symbolizes labor, the people's hard work... it is a gift. Hope, you could call it. It is something the people live for. People live and die for certain things they believe in and this plow could be one of those situations.
ReplyDeleteThis is great image by Cather. At the right moment, the plough loooked extremely important and like one of the biggest things on Earth. This is symbolizing how important Nebraska is to Jim and Antonia. Black Hawk is a tiny town that nobody really cares about, but this is symbolizing that to Jim and Antonia, Black Hawk and the memories surrounding it, are bigger than anywhere else in the world.
ReplyDeleteI believe that the plow recognizes the great outcome of hardwork and struggle of living on a farm. Plowing a field is no fun, even for a farmer, and especially for the Shimerdas who are not farmers at all. Blood, sweat, and tears are shed over the plow, but the awsome thing about hard work is the greater outcome. At the end of the day when all the hard work is done and over with, well until the next day at least, it is time to relax and know that you can rest. With the sun setting over the plow, it shows that through hard times, pain, and suffering, there are moments of joy that one should never take for granted.
ReplyDeletethe plow is a symbol for a prosperous future. It represents the hard work that has been put into making America what it is. It also represents the American dream of building your own house and working the land to survive. That is what the west was all about back in this time.
ReplyDelete"
God sells us all things at the price of labor." ~Leonardo da Vinci
The plow is a huge contrast to the setting sun. The plow is man-made and represents humans. The sun is natural and beautiful and represents the simple beauty of nature. As the sun sets, the plow seems to get smaller and smaller. This represents how nature will always overcome man. Although we inhabit the land, we never own it; it never belongs to us.
ReplyDeleteThis quote is symbolic, for it leaves an everlasting mark of hope. The sun was setting as the plow's frame became apparent. In the midst of change, the plow serves as a grounded symbol of eternal prosper and hope for all country men. For Jim, the country will always be in his heart no matter where he is in the world.
ReplyDelete"The fields below us were dark, the sky was growing pale, and that forgotten plough had sunk back to its own littleness somewhere on the praire" (156). The plow represents Jim and Antonia's past on the country. They see it for a moment, just a moment, standing strong and firm. Then as night falls, it disappears and again they forget their past lives and return to the present. The plow represents memories, memories of life and death, memories of feeling strong and feeling weak, and memories of Jim and Antonia together, when they didn't have a care in the world.
ReplyDeleteThe plow is a symbol of the hard work that the people of Nebraska must go through. In order to be successful, the Nebraskans have to do their fair share of work. Seeing that image of the plow and the sunset reminds the reader that the hard work pays off. It shows the reader and the characters that as long as they work hard, they can achieve a better life.
ReplyDeleteThe plough obviously symbolizes the need of work in the prairie. When it's image is in comparison to the setting sun, the two almost seem equal, but when the sun sets the plough disappears. The sun is also a symbol. It symbolizes the prominence of nature in the planes of Nebraska. Without the nature then there would be virtually no need for the plough or the work, and the nature basically dominates the human necessity for work. Although the two objects, the sun and plough, seem equal for a moment or two, nature proves itself to be stronger and more demanding when the sun sets, and the view of the plough disappears completely.
ReplyDeleteI think the plow simply represents a tool, and that everyone is given "tools" in there life. We must use them to the best of our ability, use them to work and get ahead. That i think, is the American Dream. We are given America, now we just have to utilize all its possibilities.
ReplyDeleteThe upright plow is a striking symbol, meaning that there is hope still for Americans to have success in maintaining land. It reminds me of someone staking their claim, like an astronaut that puts an American flag up on the moon. It is a symbol of the American people taking ownership of the land and reaping crops for years to come. This is also significant to Cather, because it reminds her that all is not lost; rewards can still be achieved in the vast land of Nebraska.
ReplyDeleteThe plow against the sinking sun represents all of the hard work that goes into getting freedom. When the sun is up, the people use the plow to work their farms. But when the sun sets each day, the plow is what keeps them alive. The plow is their source of life, their source of freedom. It also represents the life that Jim and Antonia once had on the prairie. But, that life is now over, because they live in the city. It is the symbol for how they got where they are at this point.
ReplyDeleteI think this plow represents the hard-work and the nature/landscape of Nebraska.I think this image portrays the hard-work that had to be put into making a living in this culture. It shows the prosperity to come in the future. I also think it displays the natural land of Nebraska, and how in every aspect of the book the nature seems to be refletced. Even though this book is of great hardships and obstacles, nature always seems to take over and is a common thread throughout the novel. The plow also becomes smaller as Jim and Antonia moves away, this proves to enjoy the smaller things in life (such as nature).
ReplyDeleteThis plow is a symbol of the hard work in the story, but it is also a symbol of hope for the future. It shows that there is hope in their future and that they can accomplish their American dream.
ReplyDeletethe plow represents two things for jim and antonia. the first is hope and the second is a love for nebraska. hope includes a hope for a better life and the true american dream. black hawk nebraska is a place that jim and antonia know and love and this incredible picture cather illustrates for the reader represents this place
ReplyDeleteI think the image presented on pg 155-156 is a symbol of hope. The horizon represents that the future will bring prosperity and hope. Yet at the same time i think it represents everything they have been through and everything they have yet to experience. Cather depicts this picture to be a crossroads in the journey to prosperity.
ReplyDeleteThe scene where Jim and Antonia look at the plow and the sunset is a very symbolic scene. it symbolizes how they are coming together as friends, and it also symboles the coming together of nature and industry. the two are like one and they go very nicely together, just like how the sunset and the plow look very beautiful.
ReplyDeletei think this symbol is hard work and the hope of a future. This shows the attitude toward Nebraska and the thought if you work hard there is hope for prosperity.
ReplyDeleteI think that the plow is a symbol for the future of the land, and the livelihood of the land owners. The plow gives the land owners hope that they will have a prosperous harvest and earn a profit. I believe that this symbol corresponds with Cather's view of Nebraska. She seems to portray through the characters that Nebraska's land has enormous potential. If the owners can have a successful harvest then they will be able to achieve their dreams of providing for their families. The success of the land depends on the plow, therefore, the plow is a major piece of the Nebraska's citizens lives.
ReplyDeleteI think that the plow is a symbol of how hard the work ethic of these people who work in the vast fields. I also believe that the plow is a symbol of hope for the future and shows the optimism of Jim and his family.
ReplyDeleteThis represents the dreams of those who left their homes in the east and in Europe to start a new life in the new land. These people saw hope and a future in the "new froniter". This shows that the people were optimistic for prosperity.
ReplyDeleteThe plow symbolizes the hope that everyone can have of moving west and having a successful lifestyle. The plow also symbolizes hard work and how people can be successful with hard work. The plow also is a sign of hope that people can acheive the American dream.
ReplyDeleteI think the setting shows a symbol of hope for them, like everyone else has said, because they work so hard and this beautiful sunset is almost rewarding them for it. They plow shows that they work so hard for moments like these and that they deserve the fruits of the labors they work so hard for.
ReplyDeleteI think it represents the strength of the land. Something as simple as a plow, showed power and meaning. The sun seemed to point it out to them as they stood there. In any other light it would have seemed unimportant. This shows hope for the workers and hope for Jim in seeing the strength of the farm land.
ReplyDeletethe plow in the setting sun represents the bond between the land and the men that work it. that men will farm that land is as certain as the rise and fall of the sun.
ReplyDeleteI believe that this scene is representing hope. The way it describes the sun set makes it seem almost as if there was a light at the end of a tunnel, and that hope is in the near future. It sends a more relaxed message then before. It says the whispered about it, which is showing that they may have been in a very peaceful setting with the sunset and all.
ReplyDeleteThis symbolizes hope. They have moved out to the the west and they see this plow and see that it is a chance for them. They can be successful with their hard work and live a good life in their new home.
ReplyDeleteThe plow symbolizes the hard work put in to working in Nebraska on the farm. The plow is also a symbol of hope. When hope exists, optimism also exists. There is a hope for the future: to live the "American dream". The only way to reach this hope is to work hard and with a purpose.
ReplyDeleteThe symbol of the plow and the sunset represents the hard work that is necessary for survival in the west. The sunset behind the plow helps show that it was a long day of work, which is typical for hard working person.
ReplyDeleteThis plow that Jim and Antonia see means a great deal to them. They have realized that the state of Nebraska can be beautiful, not just some farmland. It also shows the importance of farming in Nebraska. This moment is a bonding experience for Jim and Antonia
ReplyDelete"a hard working person."
ReplyDeleteThe plow symbolizes the freedom Jim and Antonia now have because they moved to the west. This freedom brings about hope for a better life especially for the Shimerdas. Cather describes the plow in front of the beautiful sunset in order to exemplify how working in the fields in Nebraska is also a beautiful thing in the life of these families.
ReplyDeleteThese posts demonstrate how many valuable insights all of you have about the novel, hard work, and the American dream! Life in Nebraska was difficult, but our families and personal relationships bring us all daily encouragement. Enjoy the break! Mrs. Pollock
ReplyDeletethe plough represents the hard work it takes to make it in nebraska. it also represents the hope those have that can come and make a life for themselves in america through farming.
ReplyDelete