Leaving Too Soon

765 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Depression and its impact on adolescents

In the short-story “Paul’s Case”, written by Willa Cather, Paul has just been suspended from high school because his teacher’s do not know how to deal with him. Paul’s mother died shortly after he was born so he lives with his father and sisters. In a way, Paul comes from a broken home. He does not have a mother and he does not hold a quality relationship with his father, like every boy wants. He is described as awkward and feels like he never really fits in anywhere. This evidence of Paul’s character displays warning signs and causes of depression. He is constantly trying to escape life through art or making up scenarios of his father thinking he is a burglar and shooting him. Paul has consistently assumed he will fail and disappoint his father. At the end of the story, Paul buys a gun in New York in thoughts of suicide. The narrator states, “The thing was winding up itself up; he had thought of that on his first glorious day in New York, and had even provided a way to snap the thread (Cather 14). Even though he was on an adventure, he predicted he would need a way to “snap the thread”, or commit suicide. The thoughts of dying were always lying in the back of his head. Several times the narrator states that there is a darkness in Paul. In the end, Paul commits suicide because of the unhappiness and alienation he has felt, which lead him to decide to jump in front of a train. Paul is a part of the male sex that has committed suicide. The depression he had conquered him, leading to his decision of ending his life. If he had better relationships in his life or a better home situation, it could have been different for him. In addition, Cather suggests that Paul has homosexual feelings, which cause his alienation from others. Paul fel...

... middle of paper ...

...hardship and difficulty, the average teenager goes through a lot. They receive insults and verbal abuse, name-calling and bullying, yet they continue to step on, although some get it worse than others. Teenage suicide is caused from mental or social impacts that damage the individual in a way that he or she believes that they would be better off dead. It is evident that being a teenager is no easy task; everyone has experienced some of these feelings at some point during our teenage years, and we all know that it is not always easy to deal with. It is said that a lot of teens are cautious of getting help due to the fear of being made fun of for seeking assistance for suicidal thoughts, but if a loved one takes the necessary steps to guide a distressed teen, we can lower suicide rates across the United States and make prevention an action, not a talked about subject.

Show More
Related

  • On The Sidewalk Bleeding Themes

    1402 Words  | 3 Pages

    Consequently, Andy’s soul withered further into hopelessness as each and every person who came to his rescue, turned their backs on him. Through a final desperate ambition, Andy broke free of the bonds that were pinning him down: “If it had not been for the jacket, he wouldn’t have been stabbed. The knife had not been plunged in hatred of Andy. The knife only hated the purple jacket. The jacket was a stupid, meaningless thing that was robbing him of his life. He lay struggling with the shiny wet jacket. Pain ripped fire across his body whenever he moved. But he squirmed and fought and twisted until one arm was free and the other. He rolled away from the jacket and layed quite still, breathing heavily, listening to the sound of his breathing and the sounds of rain and thinking: Rain is sweet, I’m Andy”. In these moments, Andy finally overcame his situation, only in a way not expected by most. Such depicted scenes are prime examples of human nature at it’s worst, as well as the horrors that lay within us. However, these events, although previously incomprehensible by his limited subconscious, led to a gradual enlightenment of the mind and heart. Furthermore, the experiences taught him

    Read More

  • Analysis of Paul's Case by Willa Cather

    1076 Words  | 3 Pages

    Analysis of Paul's Case by Willa Cather. Willa Cather’s “Paul’s Case” is a story about a young 16 year-old man, Paul, who is motherless and alienated. Paul’s lack of maternal care has led to his alienation. He searches for the aesthetics in life that he doesn’t get from his yellow wallpaper in his house and his detached, overpowering father figure in his life. Paul doesn’t have any interests in school and his only happiness is in working at Carnegie Hall and dreams of one day living the luxurious life in New York City.

    Read More

  • Use of Symbols in Paul's Case

    831 Words  | 2 Pages

    "Paul’s Case." Short Stories for Students. Ed. Kathleen Wilson. Vol. 2. Detroit: Gale, 1997. 192-209. Short Stories for Students. Gale. Web. 21 Jan. 2010.

    Read More

  • Compare And Contrast Paul And Faul

    721 Words  | 2 Pages

    As a child Paul and Norman were very much the same, for they both seeked love from their father but, growing up Paul strayed from his fathers teaching. We see that in fly fishing; Paul leaves the four tempo technique, and creates a technique called shadow casting. Paul seeks attention, for example when he danced with the Native American girl all eyes were on them due to the provocative dancing or Native American. Paul loves being in the center of attention whenever; he came home he would often tell stories with both parents giving him full attention. Paul’s character was very boisterous and quick-tempered. Paul tended to start fights and cause a scene. Paul is not reserved, and he will quickly tell you how he feels. Paul is a very independent person, and he does not like to receive help; for example after the gambling scene Paul tries to dissuade Norman away from helping him. Paul is not one to follow other people’s example, but rather sets examples like fly fishing. Paul has an alcohol and gambling problem, and he knows, but he refuses help due to his pride. Paul was equally loved as a child, but he craved for attention as an adult because he did not know what to do with the love that was given to him. In the movie Paul started to really act out when Norman came home, and perhaps this was because he felt as if he was in Norman’s shadow. Norman was called the “professor” in the family because he went to college, but Paul never left Montana, and he could never achieve what Norman achieved perhaps that is why he acted so immaturely to receive

    Read More

  • Suicide, America’s Hidden Devastation

    1878 Words  | 4 Pages

    There are many things which can drive a teen to commit suicide some of them are as simple as making fun of the “fat” kid in class; others can come from the mental images from witnessing a shooting. There are four major issues which contribute to teen suicide such as depression, family problems, risk factors, and teens reactions to there climate. Depression, unfortunately, is one of the biggest factors of today’s teenage suicide problems and some of the reasons for it are from the student’s own peers, “being depressed is triggered by loss or rejection (Joan 59).” Depression can be f...

    Read More

  • Permanent Solution Essay: Preventing Teenage Suicide

    1145 Words  | 3 Pages

    “Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem” (Donahue). Suicide is a growing problem in our society, especially for teens. Teens have come to a point in life believing there is no escape, no matter how bad the problem. Teens struggling with depression fail to understand what is really happening, and what depression could be leading to. Suicide is now the third leading cause of death for 15 - 24 year olds in the United States. Causes leading to suicide could be, depression, bullying, or even just feeling out of place. We can all help to prevent suicide. Educate yourself and others, motivate to make a change, stop bullying, and openly talk about the problem. Simply by doing things like this you could start a revolution and save millions of lives.

    Read More

  • Unable to Permanently Escape Reality in Paul´s Case by Willa Carter and Araby by James Joyce

    955 Words  | 2 Pages

    Paul in “Paul’s Case” wanted to get away from the reality and the hostile environment he faced. He was sick of Pittsburgh and the middle-class, Cordelia Street, which he lived on. Although his mother past away, his home life was as normal as could be. This is something Paul hated, normality. At school he would tell other students false stories to try to make his life seem more interesting than theirs. This ultimately caused none of the other students like him, even the teachers lash out at him. Paul was suspended from school, but he didn’t mind. He found an interest in music and in art, although he knew his father would not approve. Paul’s father wanted him to be a business man, have a normal family and have an ordinary life. Although, having a normal, ordinary life was not what Paul had in mind for his future. He dreamt of much more which caused him to believe he would never get his father’s approval.

    Read More

  • Teen Suicide Essay

    1942 Words  | 4 Pages

    Teen suicide should never be on the minds of our youth. It’s a dreadful circumstance that happens almost on a daily basis. I chose this topic for my core assessment because I can relate to this topic. My cousin committed suicide when he was 19 years old. The pain and suffering that we as a family went through can’t even be described. Some say that people who commit suicide are selfish cowards who don’t think of their families when they act. Others say that the individual isn’t in their right mind to comprehend what is going on. I usually tend to lean towards the last assumption because personally, I feel that my cousin never committed suicide, his state of mind did. Teen suicide is one of the leading causes of death for adolescents in addition to accidents such as vehicles and drugs. My future career in law enforcement will deal with teen suicides. It’s inevitable. In addition, it’s the police officers responsibility as well as the families, and schools to detect the risk and prevent these suicidal behaviors by these teenagers. Yet, how are people supposed to know what teens are feeling deep down inside? Most teenagers can hide or act their feelings like professionals. Personally the best way to know what your teens are thinking or going through is talk to them on a daily basis; whether it’s at the dinner table or even while watching television. These measures will change your teenager’s life because he/she will know that someone cares and loves them.

    Read More

  • Teenage Suicide In America

    668 Words  | 2 Pages

    Today, teenage suicide is considered a big issue in America. Many factors contribute to this action whether it is overdosing on alcohol and drugs, cutting ones wrist with a sharp object, or pulling the trigger of a gun to put an end to their existence. Suicide is on the rise due to many factors such as family issues, social issues, and psychological issues. Increased education and awareness for the victims and their families could drastically reduce the number of suicide attempts yearly.

    Read More

  • Compare And Contrast Paul's Case And The Yellow Wallpaper

    1772 Words  | 4 Pages

    In ‘Paul’s Case’ Paul has created a fantasy world in which he becomes entranced, even to the point of lying to classmates about the tales of grandeur and close friendships that he had made with the members of the stock company. This fantasy falls apart around him as “the principle went to Paul’s father, and Paul was taken out of school and put to work. The manager at Carnegie Hall was told to get another usher in his stead; the doorkeeper at the theater was warned not to admit him to the house” (Cather 8). The fantasy fell apart further when the stories he had told his classmates reached the ears of the women of the stock company, who unlike their lavish descriptions from Paul were actually hardworking women supporting their families. Unable to cope with the reality of working for Denny & Carson, he stole the money he was supposed to deposit in the bank to live the life of luxury in New York. Only a person who felt backed into a corner would attempt something so unsound. After his eight days in paradise, he is again backed into a corner by the reality of his middle class upbringing, and the dwindling time he has before his father reaches New York to find him. The final way out for Paul is his suicide, for which an explanation would be “In the end, he fails to find his security, for it was his grandiose “picture making mechanism” that made his life so deardful.” (Saari). With all the securities of his fantasy life finally gone, his mental instability fully comes to light as he jumps in front of the train to end his

    Read More

  • Paul's Character in Paul's Case

    615 Words  | 2 Pages

    In the beginning of the story, Paul seems to be a typical teenage boy: in trouble for causing problems in the classroom. As the story progresses, the reader can infer that Paul is rather withdrawn. He would rather live in his fantasy world than face reality. Paul dreaded returning home after the Carnegie Hall performances. He loathed his "ugly sleeping chamber with the yellow walls," but most of all, he feared his father. This is the first sign that he has a troubled homelife. Next, the reader learns that Paul has no mother, and that his father holds a neighbor boy up to Paul as "a model" . The lack of affection that Paul received at home caused him to look elsewhere for the attention that he craved.

    Read More

  • The Setting of Paul's Case

    1097 Words  | 3 Pages

    "Paul’s Case." Short Stories for Students. Ed. Kathleen Wilson. Vol. 2. Detroit: Gale, 1997. 192-209. Short Stories for Students. Gale. Web. 21 Jan. 2010.

    Read More

  • An Analysis of Paul's Case by Willa Cather

    296 Words  | 1 Pages

    Paul's father is a single parent trying to raise his children in a respectable neighborhood. He is a hard worker and trying to set a good example for his son. His father puts pressure on Paul by constantly referring to a neighbor, whom he feels is a perfect model for his son to follow.

    Read More

  • The Problem of Teenage Suicide

    1928 Words  | 4 Pages

    Now the eighth-leading cause of death overall in the U.S. and the third-leading cause of death for young people between the ages of 15 and 24 years, suicide has become the subject of much recent focus. U.S. Surgeon General David Satcher, for instance, recently announced his Call to Action to Prevent Suicide, 1999, an initiative intended to increase public awareness, promote intervention strategies, and enhance research. The media, too, has been paying very close attention to the subject of suicide, writing articles and books and running news stories. Suicide among our nation’s youth, a population very vulnerable to self-destructive emotions, has perhaps received the most discussion of late. Maybe this is because teenage suicide seems the most tragic—lives lost before they’ve even started. Yet, while all of this recent focus is good, it’s only the beginning. We cannot continue to lose so many lives unnecessarily.

    Read More

  • Persuasive Essay On Depression And Suicide

    745 Words  | 2 Pages

    A young, teenage girl sits with her friends, talking, laughing, and making jokes. She seems completely normal and happy, even. What people don’t know is that this is nothing but a mask covering the loneliness that seems to run through her veins, and the unexplainable sadness that never goes away. She fears speaking of it, of admitting the uncontrollable hatred she feels for everything about herself, so much that she contemplates ending it all. The fact is, suicide is the third leading cause for death in people under the age of twenty-five. Our country needs to stop seeing this as a casual thing. Depression, anxiety, and suicide in youth are real and serious issues that we need to be more aware of in today’s society.

    Read More

More about Leaving Too Soon

Open Document