Free Essays on Pauls Case

of his teachers could not harm Paul; he was simple outside their reach. This sort of belief held by Paul Reimer-2 leave's him to judge himself. No amount of discipline could ever change his set ways unless Paul did so of his own free will. Paul’s... Free Essays on Pauls Case Free Essays on Pauls Case In Willa Cather’s short story Paul’s Case we learn of a young man who is fighting what he fears most: to be as common and plain as his world around him. How others perceive Paul only encourages him to fulfill his dream of escaping his monotonous lifestyle. Paul feels he is drowning in his everyday environment and his only breath of air is his savior: the theater. Paul has very little interest in his class studies. This leaves him open to distraction and eventually criticism. Although Paul’s appearance is that of a perfect gentleman, his teachers find his behavior inappropriate and unacceptable. The narrator draws particular attention to Paul’s eyes describing them as â€Å"remarkable for a certain hysterical brilliancy†(Cather 245); this is followed by the response of his teachers who find it â€Å"peculiarly offensive in a boy†(Cather 245). Paul’s meeting with the schools principal continues as each of his teachers get an opportunity to voice their disgust with Paul. The whole time Paul stands there never losing his smile. This is dubbed â€Å"irritating to the last degree† (Cather 246). For Paul this is his sign of strength. He refuses to allow his teachers, of such simple minds, to tear at his soul. They have no understanding of Paul’s behavior and do not wish to learn. After the meeting his teachers felt remorse for their onslaught against this mere boy. One remarked on the similarity to a â€Å"miserable street cat set at bay by a ring of tormentors† (Cather 247). However none of this affected Paul. He was untouched and unscaved by his teacher’s cruel remarks. That was just his way. Paul was in another world, above all these petty judgments. The words of his teachers could not harm Paul; he was simple outside their reach. This sort of belief held by Paul Reimer-2 leave's him to judge himself. No amount of discipline could ever change his set ways unless Paul did so of his own free will. Paul’s... Free Essays on Pauls Case In the short story â€Å"Paul’s Case† we are first introduced to Paul in the school principal’s office, and we see him, not through the eyes of his peers, but through the eyes of his teachers. Paul is, in his teacher’s opinion, a little odd. On what is supposed to be sort of a begging mission a week after his suspension, his appearance is a little ostentatious, with â€Å"something of the dandy about him†; he wore a carnation in his lapel and an oval stud in his tie, and had â€Å"hysterical brilliant† blue eyes, which infuriated his teachers. Paul presented himself in this manner due to his fear of being watched. Because of this fear, Paul was forever on edge and wearing a frozen smile with â€Å"†¦something sort of haunted about it†¦Ã¢â‚¬  that antagonized his teachers almost as much as his attitude. Paul tried to set himself above others, condescending to all whom he met, he possessed â€Å"†¦the itch to let his instructo rs know how heartily he despised them, and how thoroughly he was appreciated elsewhere†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He wanted people to perceive him as someone different, someone of importance. Paul would not allow his fellow classmates to think that he â€Å"took these people seriously,† so he repeatedly tells them â€Å"the most incredible stories,† like how he is â€Å"going to Naples, to California, to Egypt.† But Paul seems to be burdened by a greater unnamed but ever-present fear, the fear of falling into a middle-class life of obscurity and anonymity. In no way does Paul find contentment in the realm of his existence. Upon returning from work, Paul describes his â€Å"hopeless feeling of sinking back forever into the ugliness and commonness,† and not wanting to return into the â€Å"monotony in which they lived.† When Paul leaves the house on Sunday evening, after spending the day at home with his family, he speaks of â€Å"shaking off the lethargy of two deadening days, and to live again.† While standing infront of the music hall, â€Å"Paul w...