FREE ESSAY ON WHY DID HE KILL HIMSELF? MY ANTONIA

WHY DID HE KILL HIMSELF? MY ANTONIA

Why Did He Kill Himself?
Most people find it very hard to pull up roots in their native land and move to a strange
country. Throughout history, countless millions of people have done so. People forsake
their homeland and move to another country for various reasons. Some people emigrate to
avoid starvation. Some seek adventure. Others wish to escape unbearable family
situations. Still others desire to be reunited with loved ones. However, the main reason
for immigration has long been economic opportunity--the lure of better land or a better
job. Yet, some people can't conform to the American way of life. Like replanting a
flower's roots, completely moving a person so attached to their homeland and customs, can
prove to be fatal.
In the book, My Antonia, the Shimerdas seemed to be very religious. For example, on
Christmas evening, When the candle ends sent up their conical yellow flames, all the
colored figures from Austria stood out clear and full of meaning against the green
boughs. Mr. Shimerda rose, crossed himself, and quietly knelt down before the tree......
History shows that the Bohemian people were constantly revolting for their freedom. This
was probably one of the reasons for the religious Shimerdas move to America, to get away
from those many hard times.
All the time she say: 'America big country; much money, much land for my boys, much
husband for my girls...my mama, she want Ambrosch for be rich, with many cattle. This
must have been the main factor for the move from their kawn-tree. Unfortunately, not all
the Shimerdas were excited by the move. My papa sad for the old country. He not look
good. He never make music anymore...He don't like this kawn-tree...My papa, he cry for
leave his old friends what make music with him. These quotations were the warning signs
of what happened next. Why, mam, it was simple enough; he pulled the trigger with his big
toe. He layed over on his side and put the end of the barrel in his mouth, then he drew
up one foot and felt for the trigger. He found it all right! Mr. Shimerda was so
depressed about losing everything and anything that was familiar to him that he felt
there was no use in living. Jim thought, I knew it was homesickness that had killed Mr.
Shimerda, and I wondered whether his released spirit would not eventually find its way
back to his own country.
A person considering suicide exhibits certain warning signs. People may express a feeling
of hopelessness, a loss of interest in living, or a wish to die. I suspect Mr. Shimerda
felt all those things. He felt hopelessness, in that he would never feel at home in this
strange country. Because of that, he lost the interest and the purpose for living. These
reasons ultimately gave him the wish to die. As Jim thought, homesickness finally killed
that poor depressed man. Perhaps, if Jim was right, Mr. Shimerda's soul lingers over his
homeland. Perhaps a comprehensive move doesn't suit every immigrant.
Why Did He Kill Himself?
Most people find it very hard to pull up roots in their native land and move to a strange
country. Throughout history, countless millions of people have done so. People forsake
their homeland and move to another country for various reasons. Some people emigrate to
avoid starvation. Some seek adventure. Others wish to escape unbearable family
situations. Still others desire to be reunited with loved ones. However, the main reason
for immigration has long been economic opportunity--the lure of better land or a better
job. Yet, some people can't conform to the American way of life. Like replanting a
flower's roots, completely moving a person so attached to their homeland and customs, can
prove to be fatal.
In the book, My Antonia, the Shimerdas seemed to be very religious. For example, on
Christmas evening, When the candle ends sent up their conical yellow flames, all the
colored figures from Austria stood out clear and full of meaning against the green
boughs. Mr. Shimerda rose, crossed himself, and quietly knelt down before the tree......
History shows that the Bohemian people were constantly revolting for their freedom. This
was probably one of the reasons for the religious Shimerdas move to America, to get away
from those many hard times.
All the time she say: 'America big country; much money, much land for my boys, much
husband for my girls...my mama, she want Ambrosch for be rich, with many cattle. This
must have been the main factor for the move from their kawn-tree. Unfortunately, not all
the Shimerdas were excited by the move. My papa sad for the old country. He not look
good. He never make music anymore...He don't like this kawn-tree...My papa, he cry for
leave his old friends what make music with him. These quotations were the warning signs
of what happened next. Why, mam, it was simple enough; he pulled the trigger with his big
toe. He layed over on his side and put the end of the barrel in his mouth, then he drew
up one foot and felt for the trigger. He found it all right! Mr. Shimerda was so
depressed about losing everything and anything that was familiar to him that he felt
there was no use in living. Jim thought, I knew it was homesickness that had killed Mr.
Shimerda, and I wondered whether his released spirit would not eventually find its way
back to his own country.
A person considering suicide exhibits certain warning signs. People may express a feeling
of hopelessness, a loss of interest in living, or a wish to die. I suspect Mr. Shimerda
felt all those things. He felt hopelessness, in that he would never feel at home in this
strange country. Because of that, he lost the interest and the purpose for living. These
reasons ultimately gave him the wish to die. As Jim thought, homesickness finally killed
that poor depressed man. Perhaps, if Jim was right, Mr. Shimerda's soul lingers over his
homeland. Perhaps a comprehensive move doesn't suit every immigrant.