The Pilgrimage To The Spiritual Home

Willa Gather (1873-1947) is a great American woman novelist who first gives pioneers heroic stature in serious American literature . It is this material that makes Gather occupy the unique position in American literature . Her masterpiece . My Antonia is a paean of praise to industrious pioneers and a fullest celebration of country life .The intention of this thesis is to analyze the cycle structure of this novel and to find out how the cycle structure embodies the theme of the return. This thesis falls into three parts, each studying one level of cycle structure. Chapter I is about the cycle of seasons of the year . Through the change of seasons , Miss Gather shows the theme of the return to vitality. Chapter II is studying the cycle of stages of human life which reveals the theme of the return to nature . Chapter III discusses the cycle of the cultural phases of civilisation , which expresses the theme of the return to traditional value system.By using cycle structure in different levels , Willa Gather expresses her theme of return . She shows deep abhorrence to the modem society then turns to the world of nature to find solution . Through My Antonia , Willa Gather appeals to people to return to nature and traditional value .