The Bohemian Girl (short story)
Encyclopedia
The Bohemian Girl is a short story by Willa Cather
. It was written when Cather was living in Cherry Valley, New York
with Isabelle McClung whilst Alexander's Bridge
was being serialised in McClure's
. It was first published in McClure's in August 1912.
Nils visits Clara, who asks him if he has the second will his father did, bequeathing him some land. His mother drives him home and expresses her disapproval of Clara's father, for being a saloon-keeper. Later, Clara meets Nils outside the saloon; he tells her he came back to see her because he loves her. She gallops off. Sometime later, her father invites her and Nils along for wine and music.
Later, at the Ericsons's barnraising, Nils follows Clara down in the cellar, then dances with her and says they should run away. As she is on her way back home from her father's one night, the two lovers run away.
A year after their departure, Eric is on a train. He is supposed to take a ship in New York City
and join his brother and Clara in Bergen
- Nils has been corresponding with Joe. However, he decides to stop at Red Oak, Iowa
and return home to his mother, as he doesn't want to leave her alone in the house. When he is back, she says she has been milking the cows instead of asking a local boy to do the job for her: she did not want people to talk. Mother and son are happily reunited.
's Madame Bovary
, as the barn-raising bears similarities to the wedding scene in Flaubert's novel
Willa Cather
Willa Seibert Cather was an American author who achieved recognition for her novels of frontier life on the Great Plains, in works such as O Pioneers!, My Ántonia, and The Song of the Lark. In 1923 she was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for One of Ours , a novel set during World War I...
. It was written when Cather was living in Cherry Valley, New York
Cherry Valley (town), New York
Cherry Valley is a town in Otsego County, New York, USA. The population was 1,266 at the 2000 census.Within the Town of Cherry Valley is a village, also called Cherry Valley...
with Isabelle McClung whilst Alexander's Bridge
Alexander's Bridge
Alexander's Bridge is the first novel by American author Willa Cather. First published in 1912, it was re-released with an author's preface in 1922...
was being serialised in McClure's
McClure's
McClure's or McClure's Magazine was an American illustrated monthly periodical popular at the turn of the 20th century. The magazine is credited with creating muckraking journalism. Ida Tarbell's series in 1902 exposing the monopoly abuses of John D...
. It was first published in McClure's in August 1912.
Plot summary
Nils Ericson gets off the train at his hometown. He gets a ride on a carriage to his family home, where his mother greets him after many years apart. He goes for a walk with his little brother Eric. The next day the two brothers talk about Lou Sandberg's suicide - Nils dismisses the old man for his folly.Nils visits Clara, who asks him if he has the second will his father did, bequeathing him some land. His mother drives him home and expresses her disapproval of Clara's father, for being a saloon-keeper. Later, Clara meets Nils outside the saloon; he tells her he came back to see her because he loves her. She gallops off. Sometime later, her father invites her and Nils along for wine and music.
Later, at the Ericsons's barnraising, Nils follows Clara down in the cellar, then dances with her and says they should run away. As she is on her way back home from her father's one night, the two lovers run away.
A year after their departure, Eric is on a train. He is supposed to take a ship in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and join his brother and Clara in Bergen
Bergen
Bergen is the second largest city in Norway with a population of as of , . Bergen is the administrative centre of Hordaland county. Greater Bergen or Bergen Metropolitan Area as defined by Statistics Norway, has a population of as of , ....
- Nils has been corresponding with Joe. However, he decides to stop at Red Oak, Iowa
Red Oak, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 5,742 in the city, with a population density of . There were 2,887 housing units, of which 2,406 were occupied....
and return home to his mother, as he doesn't want to leave her alone in the house. When he is back, she says she has been milking the cows instead of asking a local boy to do the job for her: she did not want people to talk. Mother and son are happily reunited.
Characters
- Nils Ericson
- The agent at the train station.
- A driver in a carriage
- Preacher Ericson, Nils's late father.
- Lady Ericson, Nil's mother.
- Olaf Ericson, Cousin Henrick's sons's guardian. He farms his land and 'puts the proceeds out at compound interest for them'.
- Mrs Otto
- Hilda
- Eric, Nils's little brother.
- Counsin Henrick
- Peter
- Anders
- Lou Sandberg, a local who killed himself.
- Clara Olaf, Olaf's wife. Her maiden name is Vavrika. She doesn't get out of bed until 8a.m., which is late under the circumstances.
- Johanna Vavrika, Clara's aunt. fifty years old.
- Joe Vavrika, a saloon-keeper.
- Evelina Oleson, a girl who went to school with Nils and Clara.
- Peter Oleson
- Yense Nelson
- Eli Swanson
- Nick Hermanson
- Fritz Sweiheart, the German carpenter.
- Olena Yenson
- Fritz Oberlie
Allusions to other works
- The Bible is briefly mentioned.
- Cather included lines from Michael Balfe's The Bohemian GirlThe Bohemian GirlThe Bohemian Girl is an opera composed by Michael William Balfe with a libretto by Alfred Bunn. The plot is loosely based on a Cervantes tale, La Gitanilla.The opera was first produced in London at the Drury Lane Theatre on November 27, 1843...
.
Literary significance and criticism
It has been suggested that the story was influenced by Gustave FlaubertGustave Flaubert
Gustave Flaubert was a French writer who is counted among the greatest Western novelists. He is known especially for his first published novel, Madame Bovary , and for his scrupulous devotion to his art and style.-Early life and education:Flaubert was born on December 12, 1821, in Rouen,...
's Madame Bovary
Madame Bovary
Madame Bovary is Gustave Flaubert's first published novel and is considered his masterpiece. The story focuses on a doctor's wife, Emma Bovary, who has adulterous affairs and lives beyond her means in order to escape the banalities and emptiness of provincial life...
, as the barn-raising bears similarities to the wedding scene in Flaubert's novel
External links
- Full Text at the Willa Cather Archive