Willa Cather’s ‘On the Gull’s Road’ is a short story that was published in McClures in 1908. The piece centers on the life of the unknown narrator wherein there is a flashback during the time when the person met Alexndra Ebbling, a married woman in the ship. In seeking to convey the story to readers, Cather utilizes a powerful narrative that uses both symbolisms and literary devices such as metaphor to highlight themes related to love, obligations and longing. By bringing together these elements, the story is able to tap and reinforce the emotions that have been instrumental in shaping the character of the anonymous author.
For readers, the theme surrounding love remains to be present between the characters. Arguably, as the narrator allows readers to understand his past, it demonstrates the encounter where he felt a love that should not happen. It shows his journey with Alexandra Ebbling that cannot come into place due to his marriage with Lars Ebbling. Despite having the same feelings with one another, the narrator feels heartbroken that Alexandra declined his request to elope due to her degrading health condition and the fact that she is married (Roberts 1). Altogether, the story presents a reminiscent time when the narrator was young and felt he had experienced true love like no other. By using flashbacks, Cather is able to emphasize on these emotions and examine how complications impeded true love.
Another evident theme portrayed by Cather in the story corresponds to strict adherence to norms and standards. This can particularly be seen with the reactions of Alexandra Ebbling as she continues to find ways to stick with her duties to her husband Lars. Despite the supposed extra-marital affairs and lack of romantic flame between the couple, Alexandra continued to fight for the sanctity of their marriage. Equally, readers are often associate Alexandra’s marriage to be arranged and do not necessarily reflect what she feels. Cather mentions this in the story by highlighting, “sometimes it is given in marriage, and sometimes it is given in love, but oftener it is never given at all” (151). This quote surmises how Mrs. Ebbling feels about her priorities, including marriage. Altogether, despite the temptations of eloping with the narrator and her personal feelings, Alexandra chose to stick to her obligation and duty as a wife.
The use of the water as a metaphor for budding romantic emotions of Alexandra is utilized by Cather in the story. Using this symbolism enables readers to recognize the developing feelings emerging between the main characters in the story. Woodress provides that “Cather suggests sexual passion by associating Mrs. Ebbling continually with the sea, as though she were Venus, emerging on her scallop, describing her with metaphors of sea” (201). By associating Alexandra’s feelings with the sea, it allows readers to recognize its depth and arguably its intensity when triggered. From the perspective of the narrator, he felt this emotion rise during his interaction with Alexandra in the ship.
Overall, Cather’s ‘On the Gulls Road’ remains to be reminiscent of the narrator who has experienced love but had to succumb due to complexities and circumstances. With the author’s ability to provide powerful storytelling, she is able to convey depth and meaning to readers and express strong emotions related to sadness, longing and a love that failed due to existing obligations. As the story provides a flashback of a romance that happened in the past, it enables the promotion of a nostalgic feel where the persona had to recall the one that got away and showcase that amidst the years that passed, the emotion and sense of longing continues.
Works Cited
Cather, Willa Sibert. ‘On the Gulls Road’ McClure’s Magazine, 32 (Dec. 1908): 145-152.
Roberts, John. ‘Short Story Reviews on the Gulls Road by Willa Cather’ Humanities 360. 14 Jun. 2011. Web. Accessed 24 August 2014.
Woodress, James. Willa Cather: A Literary Life,US: University of Nebraska Press. 1989. Print.