Pauls Case

Essay by EssaySwap ContributorCollege, Undergraduate February 2008

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Desirable Dreams What do people want in life? It seems that no matter how much he of she may have it is never enough to satisfy even the most down to earth person. Some say that they are truly happy with what they have and that they would not change their lives for the world, but somewhere deep inside them is that ache to want more and that feeling of need. People always want to fit in, and in our simple minds we feel that the best way to include ourselves is to obtain as many material things as one possibly can. Willa Cather's short story "Paul's Case" is a good example of someone who wants more. Paul is a dreamer, extremist, and in the end a madman.

Right from the start it is easy to tell that Paul is a dreamer. While waiting for the concert hall doors to open he decided to go upstairs and check out some of the beautiful art work.

From the very second Paul set his eyes on the painting of the boat he "lost himself." Paul became so in touch with the panting that I believe he had become one with the painting and began to dream that he was in the boat surrounded by the cool blue water and having the sun as bright as the gates of heaven beaming down onto his shoulders. Paul seems to "lose himself" once again at the symphony when the soloist begins to sing and when she had finished Paul clapped louder than anyone else. Before that however Paul had already acted out another fantasy in his colorful mind. As Willa Cather explains in the story, while Paul was seating the guests he began to believe that he was the host of a...