Flat Character In Paul's Case By Willa Cather

In Paul’s Case by Willa Cather, there are two significant flat characters. The first is Paul’s teachers, and Paul’s father. A flat character possesses a minor role in a story; he or she has an effect on the main characters but remain the same throughout the story. Both can be stated about the teachers at Paul’s school, who clearly detested Paul, and his father, who is misunderstood due to two conflicting angles. A key piece of being a flat character is that they must assist in the development of the major characters. How did Paul’s teachers and father’s facilitate his transformation?

Immediately, it is obvious that there is a clear disdain for Paul from his teachers. In the story, when questioned by the principle what charges were being brought

The author herself paints Paul’s father, as a caring and compassionate man, who truly desires the best for his children. On three different occasions Paul’s father’s love for his children is demonstrated. First, he repaid the one-thousand dollars his son stole. Second, he was truly concerned about Paul’s struggles in school, and finally he endlessly searched for his run-a-away son. Contrary to the obvious, Paul forms an image of his father as a man who is only a disciplinarian and is disappointed and ashamed of his son. The author even states Paul’s thoughts of his father’s opinion of him, “Then, again, suppose his father had down, pistol in hand, and he had cried out in time to save himself, and his father had been horrified to think how he nearly killed him? Then, again, suppose a day would come when his father would remember that night, and wish there had been no warning cry to stay his hand.” Paul even pondered the fact that his father may wish him dead. He now deems that he is a disgrace to his father and his family. Despairingly, Paul becomes even more a shell of his former self. He can no longer take the despair and loathe he has formed towards everyone, so he runs away. Eventually, it is all too great of a burden for him to bear, and he ends it all. What a life-altering effect a blind notion