Personality Quiz - Celine, Cheyenne, and Michele

[Mrs. Patterson]

Celine: Jim
Cheyenne: Mrs. Shimerda
Michele: Jim

Please describe and defend your character's view on the following issue (in the first or third person, as you prefer):

The Shimerdas' material need and the Burdens' limited aid, and Mrs. Shimerda's pride and boastfulness (and at times, her seeming ungratefulness)

Direct support from the book would greatly strengthen your description and defense.

[Michele]

In the book, Jim Burdens' grandmother lent the Shimerdas some cookware and Mrs. Shimerda did not want to return it because the Burdens had a lot of nicer things than them. Because the Shimerdas had little money left after moving to America, they needed material things which they often took from the Burdens when they borrowed something. With the Shimerdas, they barely spoke English so there definitely was a language barrier between the two families which probably caused many misunderstandings. Jim Burdens' grandmother seemed to be the one who was the most understanding towards the Shimerdas and offered her services or offered to train Antonia for things such as cooking. The Shimerdas needed physical things to help them live while the Burdens' needed the help and services of other people. Mrs. Shimerda did not want to ask for items from the Burdens because she did not want to ruin her pride. She did not want others to know she was having a hard time taking care of her family. She often wanted more things from others because everyone else had more, nicer items than she and her family had.

[Celine]

In the novel, the Shimerdas' came over to America and did not know what to expect. The Shimerdas' were in need of material objects and couldn't get what they needed. The family was poor and felt the only way to get what they needed was by asking other people for help. The Shimerdas', ended up asking the Burden family to help them out in their time of need. Jim Burden's grandmother happily helped the Shimerdas', not aware of what was to happen to the belongings she lent to the Shimerdas'. Mrs. Shimerda felt that she had the right to keep the borrowed belongings she accepted from the Burden's. At times Jim felt that Mrs. Shimerda was using his grandmother, but did not say too much about it. As the relationship between the Burden's and Shimerda's grew, Mrs. Shimerda became greedy and ungrateful. When Jim's grandmother lent her some food or utensils for the kitchen Mrs. Shimerda took the items and paid no mind that it once had a value to Mrs. Burden. Jim did not say much to his grandmother about his disapproval for her lending items to Mrs. Shimerda, merely due to his fondness over Antonia. He knew her family was struggling so he kept quiet. Mrs. Burden continued with the relationship between herself and Mrs. Shimerda because of her liking for Antonia.

[Cheyenne]

    The Shimerda's are in need as a result of the recent passing of Mr.Shimerda, the Burdens' quickly aid the family in any way possible. Although the Burdens' are going out of their way to help them in whatever they may need. Mrs.Shimerda goes on to act boastful and ungrateful. I don't agree with her actions but I can reason why she acted in this way. Dealing with her husband's gruesome death, left Mrs.Shimerda emotionally torn and some people react to a situation like death in a bad way. Mrs.Shimerda's reaction to the help of the Burdens' in such a harsh way because she didn't want to seem helpless and wanted to create the illusion that she had everything under control. She didn't want pity. Although she felt as if she was being pitied, she misinterpreted help for bad intentions. I don't necessarily think that Mrs.Shimerda was genuinely ungrateful, rather she was trying to prove her independence to those around her and put up a front that portrayed her in a wrong way.