O Pioneers By Willa Cather Analysis

O Pioneers! written by Willa Cather. “Don’t be cross, Emil. Only- Ivar’s right about wild things. They’re too happy to kill. You can tell just how they felt when they flew up. They were scared, but they didn’t really think anything could hurt them. No, we won’t do that anymore”. Though Marie and Emil’s love for one another was forbidden, it was so strong that no matter how much she shielded herself from him, in the end, their love emerged through it all.
The glittering pond, the orchard, the white mulberry tree— filled with moments from long ago. Marie and Emil spent their entire childhood together, but they grew up and lived separate lives. Emil— who traveled to Mexico, saw new wonders, and Marie, who married to girl- magnet Frank Shabata.
As dinner came, Marie spotted Emil dressed in a sombrero and Mexican clothes; he was a man now. Unable to contain her excitement, she ran over to him and asked a string of questions about Mexico. Later, during the auction, Emil heard of a prank that was organized to take out the lights so the guys could grab a kiss on their girlfriends. Emil, having no one, eyed Marie after being recommended to blow out the candle in her tent. He walked over to her, and they had their first private conversation they have had in a year. Lights went out; Emil blew out the candle. Marie, frightened by the sudden darkness, jumped into Emil’s arms and kissed
The wedding had ended, and Emil catches up to Marie. He attempted to talk to her about how she felt or how different it felt. As the conversation trailed on, Emil abruptly asked her to run away with him. She refused; she could not take any of this anymore. Emil promised he would leave if only she said that she loved him. She replied, “Didn’t you know?” A week later, Emil packed up his books and got ready to study law in Omaha, but Amédée, his worker, was carried off the field after having a seizure to have surgery, but unfortunately, it was too late. Half of the village mourned the death of Amédée as they gathered by the graveyard where Amédée’s grave was being dug up. Emil looked for Marie, but she was not there. He started to worry whether something was wrong with her, if she was sick or had a quarrel with Frank. Overwhelmed by emotion and the choir music, he left the church and immediately rode to the Shabata farm to say goodbye to Marie one last time. He arrived, walked into the orchard, and found Marie stretched out, asleep, on the grass. He threw himself down beside her and took her into his arms. When she awoke, she buried her face against his. Frank came home drunk, enraged, and noticed Emil’s horse in the stable. He stomped through the house, but found no one. Becoming more and more angry, he grabbed his shotgun, a Winchester 450. He walked towards the orchard as he heard a noise. He peered