When Willa Cather wrote her novel My Antonia in 1918, there was probably no doubt that it was the story of a woman's achievement. However, today many critics claim that this work is the legacy of a girl's struggle and not her triumph. This perception can easily be challenged. This leaves readers with the choice of interpreting the book as enlightening or depressing. My Antonia took place at the end of the 19th century. Jim Burden recounted his memories of Antonia's life and their childhood together, after twenty years of absence. The novel began when the ten-year-old orphan narrator moved from Virginia to the plains of Nebraska to live with his grandparents. He spent his childhood alongside his grandparents and a bohemian neighbor on the prairies. This young Russian girl, new to America, was called Antonia. Jim and Antonia spent endless afternoons together. He taught him English and America. His lessons were of life and strength. His daily life on the farm changed when he moved with his grandparents to the nearest town, Black Hawk. Antonia found a job as a housekeeper in town, even though her family still lived on a farm. Their teenage years were occupied with dances and picnics. Jim went to college after graduation. Antonia, never having been able to go to school, was courted but left with a child out of wedlock. However, soon after, she married a fellow bohemian and they had eleven children. This book is the moving story of his friendship with Antonia, his Antonia. Antonia's life is constantly debated. This fictional character is considered by many to be a failure. One of them is William J. Stuckey. His essay included in Literary Criticism of the Twentieth Century, Vol. 31, said: "Cather and her narrator celebrate one of the o...... middle of paper ... as extremely unusual for the time." Tiny Soderball, another unlikely candidate for success, struck gold in the West after leaving Black Hawk, a handmaiden. The accomplishments of these three women add to the likelihood that Antonia's life was commendable. The fact that My Antonia was written by a woman should clearly demonstrate that it depicts women in a positive light. “the best work of fiction ever written by a woman in America.” Mencken also said that Cather would "create her own role in life." declared. My Antonia by Willa Cather is a novel of heroic success for some and disappointment for others. It is perceived differently by its audience, like everything in life. It nonetheless remains an excellent work...