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Paul's Case Summary Class 12 | Willa Cather | Major English by Suraj Bhatt
Paul's Case by Willa Cather
ABOUT THE WRITER
Willa Cather (1873–1947) was an American writer. She grew up in Virginia and Nebraska. She had been a teacher and managing editor of a magazine. In the year 1913, Cather followed the advice of her mentor, writer Sarah Orne Jewett, and left the magazine to focus on writing full-time.
She was awarded the Pulitzer Prize and the gold medal for fiction. Cather claimed that her teaching experience inspired “Paul's Case." Her career as a young journalist also seems to inform the story, as Cather spoke of the intoxicating effect of seeing her name in print for the first time. Her instant addiction to the world of journalism and the arts is mirrored in Paul, who is hypnotised by theatre and music.
CHARACTERS
Paul's Case by Willa Cather
Major Central Character:
1. Paul
A schoolboy, a teenager, suspended from school, in love with his job in the theatre, steals money, moves to New York to enjoy life, and eventually commits suicide by jumping in front of a moving train.
Other minor Characters:
2. His head teacher
3. Faculty members (other teachers)
4. His father
5. Charley Edwards, a young actor
6. A boy from Yale University: He befriends Paul in New York. They roam around the city all night.
MAIN SUMMARY
Paul's Case by Willa Cather
The short story "Paul's Case" was written by American writer Willa Cather. This story is about a young boy who struggles to fit in at home and school. The story begins with the reader learning that the main character, Paul, is being suspended from high school. He meets with his principal and faculty members (teachers) who complain about Paul's "furious manner" in the class and the "physical hatred" displayed towards his teachers. Paul displays this behaviour as he prefers his job as an usher for Carnegie Hall in Pittsburgh. He stops by for concerts and enjoys the social scene while losing himself in the music. After the concert, Paul follows the soloist and imagines life inside her hotel room. Unfortunately, the reader soon learns that Paul and his father have a bad relationship. One night, while returning home very late, Paul enters through the basement window to avoid a confrontation with his father. While in the basement, Paul is terrified that his father will come down with a shotgun and kill him. So, he stays awake all night, imagining what would happen if his father mistook him for a thief and shot him, or if his father would have recognised him in time. Paul not only wonders if his father will recognise him in time, but he also entertains the idea that his father might regret not shooting him when he gets the chance to do so.
Paul feels out of place with the people on Cordelia Street, as they serve to remind him of his own lacklustre life. Although his father considers him a role model for Paul, Paul is not impressed by the young man who works for an iron company and has four children. While Paul longs to become rich, cultured, and powerful, he lacks the stamina and ambition to change his position. Instead, Paul escapes from his boring life by visiting Charlie Edwards, a young actor. Later, Paul makes it clear to one of his teachers that starting his job is more important than his schoolwork, which prevents his father from continuing to work as an usher. He is kicked out of school and hired at an entry-level office job, and Charlie is forced to promise never to see Paul again.
Paul takes a train to New York City that he was supposed to take to the bank after stealing a large sum of money from his job. After that, he buys an expensive wardrobe, rents a room at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, and explores the city. He also meets a new man at Yale, a 'wild San Francisco boy,' who he said ran into a "little flier" on Sunday, taking Paul on an all-night tour of the city's vibrant social scene. Takes it away. His few days as a wealthy, privileged young man bring him more satisfaction than ever, as living a lavish lifestyle is Paul's only hope and dream. However, on the eighth day, after spending most of his money, Paul read from a Pittsburgh newspaper that his theft had been made public. His father has reimbursed his job, and he is on his way to New York City to bring Paul back home to Pittsburgh. Paul then reveals that he bought a gun on his first day in New York City and briefly considers shooting himself to avoid returning to his old life in Pittsburgh. Eventually, he decides against it and instead commits suicide by jumping in front of the train. Paul made the final decision to take his own life because the idea of returning to his old lifestyle was too much for him.
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