Free Lucy Gayheart By Willa Cather Literature Review Sample

“Lucy Gayheart” is one of the most melancholic, but beautifully crafted novel by Willa Cather. Most of the events in the story took place in Haverford, Nevada and Chicago. The novel explores the contrasting atmosphere and way of life between the small town of Haverford and the busy city of Chicago. These two different settings influence the transition of events and govern the development of the main character, Lucy. The rural setting in Haverford creates an image of Lucy as a carefree and lovely girl who has always been delighted by the town’s fresh summer breeze and the simplicity of living. She however, undergoes a sudden shift when she moves to Chicago and meets Clement Sebastian. Chicago had molded her to become a musician who romantically falls for a man that is much older than her. Lucy’s cold hometown and the urban setting of Chicago are equally important in the novel as they present the contrast between a busy city and a small town. Moreover, these settings influence the characters and events such as episodes of ice skating and drowning in a river. It is important to initially see Lucy in her home and then in the town where she works and studies because it narrates Lucy’s metamorphoses. Her travel from Nebraska to Chicago marks every change that happened into her life. It signifies the phases of her life from being a beautiful lady with the youthful grace and gaiety to a woman who suffers from pain and despair.
One of the highlights of the novel is Lucy’s relationship with men. Sebastian and Lucy’s relationship is an example of a tragic love story. Their feelings are for real, but they somehow knew that their relationship is doomed especially during the time when Sebastian sung “When We Two Parted.” Sebastian have shown Lucy that Chicago is a warmer and magical place, making her realize that she had spent dull days in Nebraska. For Lucy, Sebastian is an inspiration, a driving force that makes her want to achieve all her hopes and dreams. The passages in the 13th section of Book 1 explains how Lucy felt for Sebastian. The protagonist confesses that only when she started to play for Sebastian that she was able to find value in songs or words aside from their direct meanings. This section clearly reveals that Lucy have fallen in love with the old singer despite their age gap and despite the harsh reality that Clement Sebastian is married.
On the other hand, Harry Gordon serves as a provider to Lucy, rather than a beau. Harry and Lucy’s relationship mirrors the tradition in the small town of Haverford where a young, beautiful lady is expected to marry a man from a well-to-do family. When Lucy returns to Nebraska to start a new life, she tries to renew her relationship with Harry. But the latter was cold and distant. Lucy’s rejection of his proposal had caused him the deepest kind of pain that he badly wanted to punish her. Harry played an important role in Lucy’s life as he was the only man who could have saved her; but out of pain and resentment he refused and such refusal ultimately leads to Lucy’s death.