Throughout My Antonia, Jim learns many things throughout his childhood that saves him from being a spoiled child. As a sensitive observer of what others experience, he is able to learn important lessons that help enrich his life into one of which he can openly embrace Antonia’s country family. From Jim’s point of view in My Antonia by Willa Cather, Jim is able to take the actions and experiences of other characters to influence his life and own conduct and behavior. Characters such as Mr. Shimerda, Mrs. Shimerda, and Grandfather and Grandmother Burden played a key role in the influencing of Jim’s life. To begin with, Jim was impacted by many lessons he was taught indirectly by Mr. Shimerda. Even though Mr. Shimerda and his family came to America with little belongings and money, he was …show more content…
Shimerda, Mrs. Shimerda also plays an essential role in the influence of Jim’s life. Although her actions may contrast differently in the ways of how she positively or negatively dealt upon things, Mrs. Shimerda was an influence nonetheless. In the book, Jim remembers Mrs. Shimerda as selfish and self-centered. Though this would be an overall negative influence on Jim, it played its part well in the fact that in the end, it showed Jim how he shouldn’t act. Once Jim realizes how Mrs. Shimerda acted and how he felt on the other side of the exchange, it reveals how some might feel if he spoke in such a manner. Furthermore, seeing how Mr. Shimerda was in comparison to Mrs. Shimerda conveyed how Jim could absorb information from the observing of others. He could conclude upon the view of Mr. Shimerda living with Mrs. Shimerda, including his grandparents’ dealings and experiences with her as well. Overall, it showed Jim the view of being on the opposite side of someone with such direct openness in their beliefs of giving and actions. He understood from then on to be wary of how he acted, paying careful attention to prevent such similar mannerisms to Mrs.