The Character of Marek Shimerda in My Antonia :: My Antonia Essays

The Character of Marek Shimerda in My Antonia In W bedrida Cathers brisk, My Antonia, Marek Shimerda is starved for attention because he is constantly ignored due to his mental retardation. It is whole because of his handicap and the assumption of his inability to help out with the farming and household chores that his family views him as helpless which results in Mareks strange and awkward actions. He is presented as an ill minded boylike man throughout the novel, repeatedly excused, and resides in the shadow of his healthy, fully functional older brother, Ambrosh Shimerda. Marek is a token character that is simply taken for granted. He is portrayed as strange and useless. When Jim Burden and his family first meet the Bohemians, he is approached by Marek, the second eldest son. As he approached us, he began to pee-pee uncouth noises, and held up his hands to show us his fingers, which were webbed to the first knuckle, like a ducks foot. When he saw me draw back, he began to crow delightedly (Cather, 24). Everyone who encounters this poor male child instantly views him as crazy. All of his actions are presented as strange. The crazy boy, seeing the food, began to make soft, gurgling noises and stroked his stomach (Cather, 60), and evidently he is. The crazy boy went with them outside, because he did not feel the cold. I believed he felt the cold as much as any one else, but he like to be thought insensible to it. He was always coveting distinction, poor Marek (Cather, 82) Because of everyones inability to understand and relate to Marek, he is pitied and constantly excused. After Jims reaction to Mareks webbed fingers, Marek begins to express himself, maybe even trying to communicate with what could be a new friend, but he is immediately quieted. Hoo, hoo-hoo, hoo-hoo like a rooster. His obtain scowled and said sternly, Marek then spoke rapidly to Krajiek in Bohemian. She wants me to tell you he wont hurt anybody, Mrs. Burd en. He was born like that... No one bothers to befriend this young man or even tries to talk to him throughout the entire book. Although he is obviously mentally challenged, it is not evident that any one of the characters in Cathers novel tries to reach out to this young man or teach him to be a helpful resource around the Shimerdas household.