In My Antonia by Willa Cather, Antonia Shimerda faces the hardships of living a rural lifestyle while maintaining her independence and vigor for life. Though challenged with her immigration, her father's suicide, and the lack of women rights of her time and many other obstacles, she embodies the theme "The Strength of Women". Through the eyes of Jim Burden, Antonia's struggles and trials exhibit her immense gusto. Antonia expresses strengths that women are not portrayed to be capable of and her ability to sustain her independence and her natural instinct to overcome situations despite disappointing circumstances.
Antonia has the will to be quick to support herself as a self-reliant woman, working with her best efforts. After the suicide of Mr. Shimerda, Antonia devotes her time to hard labor on the fields and hired work to support the family. When Jim meets Antonia on the fields, she asks, "Jim, you ask Jake how much he ploughed to-day.
I don't want that Jake get more done in one day than me. I want we have very much corn this fall."(P.123) She is now a "tall, strong young girl"(P.122) and her determination pushes her as far as to compete with the grown men whose experience far exceeds hers. Rival accomplishments don't discourage her but instead fuels her fire to give her best efforts. This shows her independence how even though she is left with responsibilities, her ambition allows her to take them on to support not only her, but also her family.
Antonia will not let people defy her morals and beliefs but will however, fight for them, whether it is woman or man. One day, after a night of dancing, Young Harry Paine walks her home and, "On the back porch he tried to kiss her, and when she protested... he caught...