My Abtonia Characters

Character of the novel My Antonia

Jim Burden: The narrator of the novel. He and Antonia are childhood friends. After Jim leaves Black Hawk to attend college in Lincoln, and later Boston, he loses contact with Antonia. Jim starts a relationship with Lena (another girl from his childhood) in Lincoln, but leaves for Boston to pursue his studies at Harvard, knowing that Lena distracts him from hisacademic life. Jim returns one summer and hears news of Antonia. Initially, he is disappointed in her for getting jilted by her fiance and having her baby out of wedlock. He pays her a long-overdue visit and they reminisce about their childhood days together. Twenty years pass before Jim visits her again. Antonia lives a happy life with a large brood of ten or eleven children, a loving husband,and a large farm. Jim ends up in a loveless, passionless marriage with no children and a job in law. The novel begins with Jim's story of his adolescence.
Antonia Shimerda: The immigrant Bohemian girl who comes to America with her family. Despite the many hardships she must face, Antonia remains dedicated to her family and to improving their life. She is trusting and fiercely loyal to her familyand friends. She knows what she wants in life and is determined to reach her goals of success. Antonia's greatest loss is the death of her father, Mr. Shimerda. She knows she will never forget all that he has taught her about him and the traditions of their native Bohemia. When Antonia arrives in town to work for the Harlings, she and the Harlings have a major dispute over her promiscuous dancing.Mr. Harling forbids Antonia to attend the dances, and threatens to fire her. Antonia immediately chooses freedom over employment and quits. The attempted rape of Antonia by Wick Cutter leads to the estrangement of Jim and Antonia's friendship. Later, Antonia, now pregnant, is deserted at the altar by her fiance, Larry Donovan. Bearing a child out of wedlock and raising it alone is shamefuliaccording to Black Hawk standards, but Antonia is able to rise above the humiliation. She meets and marries Anton Cuzak. She and Cuzak have ten or eleven children together, and own a large farm. Antonia rules the household with a gentle, loving hand. She loves her life on the country and is dedicated to the land.
Mrs. Burden: Jim's paternal grandmother, who Jim describes as a woman of energy andliveliness. She is very kind to the Shimerdas when they first arrive and she is the one who convinces Mrs. Harling to hire Antonia, in an effort to get her away from heavy farm work. Later, Mrs. Burden is disappointed in Jim when she learns that he has sneaked out of the house to attend dances.
Mr. Burden: Jim's paternal grandfather, who is dignified and quiet. He is strong and respected; even Mrs.Shimerda and Ambrosch agree to his peaceful terms when Jake gets into a fight with Ambrosch. Mr. Burden is made a deacon of the Black Hawk church when the Burdens move to town.
Mrs. Shimerda: The nosy, complaining, and rude mother of Ambrosch, Antonia, Yulka, and Marek and wife of Mr. Shimerda. It is Mrs. Shimerda who makes her family move to America to give Ambrosch the chance to become a wealthyfarmer.
Ambrosch Shimerda: The Shimerdas' eldest son. He is exactly like his mother, boastful and indifferent. Despite his stiff and cruel exterior, Ambrosch does have a kind heart, especially when his family is concerned. When Antonia goes to marry Donovan, Ambrosch gives her the money he had been saving for her.
Mr. Shimerda: The father of Ambrosch, Antonia, Yulka, and Marek, and wife of Mrs.Shimerda. He is a genteel, intelligent man, who loved his life in Bohemia and is heartbroken and heartsick with his new life in America. He can never adjust to the hard life on the farm; from the first time Jim meets Mr. Shimerda, he sees the sadness and exhaustion in Mr. Shimerda's face. Mr. Shimerda feels alone in the world, despite his love for his daughter, Antonia. He especially finds...