Neighbour Rosicky Analysis

During the Industrialization era, the “wonderfully rich stretch of country, [with] the finest farms” remained the same despite the ongoing change and rise of the industries in the cities. While the city was affected in terms of immigrants and industries, life in the west remained valued and pure. In the narrative, Neighbour Rosicky, Cather describes the limitations of city life to reveal her preference on the free, unrestricting, and beautiful country life.
Cather displays the limitations of city living including the restriction and unnatural isolation to reveal her preference of country life. In the narrative, Anton Rosicky is looking back on the day when he was younger and the day he found out what was the matter with him. He recalls the
afternoon of the Fourth of July as if it were yesterday. Rosicky remembers that he was in New York sitting in Park Place and noticing the entire city appearing to be empty and deserted.
He saw several of the buildings and windows were empty. In that moment, Rosicky figured out what the problem or troubles were with big cities- the desertness and isolation that the people in the city experience. Cather uses the word “cemented” to describe the way someone in the city feels apart and isolated from their neighbors and their community. Cather explains that the people in the city experience a sense of loneliness, much like what Rosicky felt like when he was sitting in the park. She suggests the isolation of city life, which allows her readers to understand her perspective on life in the west. Rosicky, looking back on this day, recalls that it was unlike anything he had every seen before, because the city had no people. Cather describes the life in the city as “an unnatural world.” This shows the restriction of city living as well as characterizing the city to be not normal due to the lack of people and activity Rosicky witnesses. Furthermore, this shows that Cather believes the city life to be full of lies and not pure. The readers interpret this analysis of the city to be a bad thing, which in turn helps Cather
develop her view on the supremacy of country life. Cather uses this word choice in order for her readers to understand her fake and artificial point of view on city life. Finally, Cather uses an analogy between the people in the big city to fish in an aquarium. She references the unnatural experience of fish in an aquarium, isolated from the rest of their population. Similarly, Cather argues that people in the big city are like these fish, restricted to one area. This also describes the restriction and unnatural nature of people in a big city. Cather’s view on country life being superior to city life emerges when Cather illustrates the limitations and problematic effects of city life.
On the contrary, Cather elucidates her perspective on life in the west by explicating the graveyards in the country. Anton Rosicky, one of Doctor Ed’s friend and the most kind-hearted, selfless people Dr. Ed knew, died and was buried in the country graveyard. Doctor Ed finally got the chance to visit the graveyard. When he arrives there, Doctor Ed notices the significance and the beauty of the graveyard’s surroundings. He finally realized how beautiful the graveyard itself was. One way Cather analyzes the graveyards is through the use of repetition. She repeats the phrase “nothing could be more...” By using this technique, the readers interpret the graveyards to be perfect and superior. This also implies that nothing beats the countryside cemeteries. By using repetition, Cather illustrates the flawless and ideal cemetery in the country and thus helps us understand why she admires life in the West. Additionally, Cather uses imagery to illustrate the graveyards in the country. She describes the cemeteries as “open and free,” “complete and beautiful.” By using these words, readers, once again, view highly of the country and their cemeteries. Cather achieves the development of her perspective on life in the West by using imagery and using soft but elegant language in describing these cemeteries. Finally, she uses the word “undeath-like” when referring to the graveyards in the country. By doing this, Cather clarifies to the readers why Rosicky was satisfied and accepting about his death. Before Rosicky died, he visits the cemetery. Cather describes him to be calm and relaxed even though he realises that he will die in the near future. Later in the narrative, Cather shows her readers why Rosicky felt like that, which is because he knows he will be remembered. By describing the cemetery as undead-like, Cather shows that nobody in that cemetery is actually forgotten. This, in turn, illustrates the small, tight community and bond between neighbors. Cather highlights the significance of country life and the small community that leads her to prefer life in the West.