An Analysis of Irony in Cather's "Neighbour Rosicky"

In 1873 Willa Cather was born in Virginia, but later in her childhood moved to Nebraska with her family. Her experiences in the heartland influenced her writing style, which included stories of immigrants as they settled and made new lives. Cather's short story "Neighbor Rosicky" depicts the life of a Bohemian Czech family man, Anton Rosicky. Rosicky had a harsh childhood, living without family in London and later in New York and was finally able move to the Midwest to start a life of his own. Here he was married and had children, which he raised to value family greatly. While working as a farmer, income was not always steady but Rosicky always made the best out of the situation.

As Rosicky grew older, his consumption of coffee, pipe smoking, and strenuous work on the farm caused him to have asthma and heart trouble. Because of his heart condition, the doctor ordered Rosicky to take it easy and not work on the farm. Rosicky had always been a hard worker and this restriction troubled him greatly. Determined to be productive, Rosicky helps his wife around the house until he one day decides to help his eldest son with the farm work. While preparing the horses Rosicky feels a great pain in his chest, so he stops working and tries to make it back to the house. Despite his effort to make it home and calm down, Rosicky heart problems are too great and he does not survive. Anton Rosicky was a great family man and died trying to help his son. Although Rosicky was a very kind hearted individual, he ironically died because he had a bad heart. (Cather, 1843-1863)

Throughout his life Rosicky was an optimist who truly cared for those around him. As a child, when most children's major concern is themselves, Rosicky had a good heart and soul. When Rosicky, starving in London, accidentally eats the Christmas dinner he acknowledges it:

Well, when I come to realize what I done, of course, I felt terrible. I felt better in

de stomache, but very bad in de heart. (1858)

Rosicky then takes matters into his own hands, replacing and adding to the amount of food the family had saved for Christmas dinner. Even as he matures into an older man, Rosicky remains good hearted, raising his children with high morals and providing "always the best quality" lifestyle for his wife. (1846) While Rosicky takes good care of his family and all those he comes into contact with; he is not able to avoid his bad heart. Trying to help his eldest son on the farm leads to Rosicky's downfall, but even as he begins to die he is concerned about his daughter-in-law:

I hate to be sick on you like dis. Down at de barn I say to myself, dat young girl ain't had much experiences in sickness, I don't want to scare her, an' maybe she's got a baby comin' or somet'ing. (1861)

Rosicky had the ideal heart inside him, yet while trying to help another; it was a heart condition that leads to his death.

When everyone reminisces on their lives, each person is usually able to recall someone very similar to Anton Rosicky and for me; it was my church youth group leader, Chad Gibbons. I first met Chad when I changed churches in the sixth grade. I was extremely shy and being in a new environment and I was horrified. Despite my fear, I felt that Chad went out of his way to make me feel important and that I belonged there. It was not just me though; Chad seemed to have this effect on everyone he came in contact with. While Chad was only twenty-three years old, he had a brain tumor which doctors told him would only allow him to live for a few more years. Even after being informed of his life threatening aliment Chad continued to stay positive and work at the church, similar to Rosicky after he discussed his situation with his wife:

Chust to take it easy like, an' stay round de house dis winter. I guess you got some carpenter work for me to do. I kin make some new shelves for you. (1848)

Despite numerous medications and treatments the tumor on Chad's brain could not be removed. Just before I entered high school, the brain tumor took Chad's life. While everyone mourned Chad we all knew that like Rosicky:

Nothing could be more right for a man who had helped to do the work of great cities and had always longed for the open country and had got it at last. Rosicky's life seemed to him complete and beautiful. (1863)

Chad died doing what he loved and would have not wanted to live his life or go out any other way.

While Anton Rosicky had a wonderful heart, it was the heart problems he had that ultimately lead to his death. Although he died, Rosicky lived his life the way he wanted to and tried to positively affect all of those he came in contact with. If only more people had a kind heart like Rosicky, the world would be a much better place to live.