Description
This short story follows Paul, a young man frustrated and out of place in his middle-class life in Pittsburgh, as he journeys to New York City and experiences some of the glamor of the bustling metropolis while contemplating his future and the path of his life; and whether or not he can stand returning to the status quo. Many scholars have studied “Paul’s Case” over the years, making arguments about Paul’s identity that associate him with homosexuality, autism, or a number of other historically marginalized identities. That said, Paul’s discontentedness is something all of us can identify with, a struggle to find happiness and purpose in one’s prescribed circumstances.
The fantasy of Gilded Age New York City presents a compelling contrast to the stark reality of Paul’s native Pittsburgh, a sparkling haven of luxury against the industrial center of coal mining and steel production. This story is very much in tune with Cather’s own life story at that moment in time. It was written when Cather was living in Pittsburgh, shortly before she moved to New York City to serve as an editor at McClure’s Magazine (where this story was first published in 1905).
Paul’s desires and quest to find meaning and excitement in his life are familiar to many of us. Although Paul makes a tragic decision for himself, his story continues to resonate for readers more than 100 years after the story’s publication.
