cather: paul's case

The Soprano -

A German singer. To Paul, the soprano seems to be a highly romantic figure, when in fact she is a middle-aged mother. This gap between perception and reality is typical of Paul, who idealizes what he does not understand. The soprano also lives (at least in Paul's mind) a life of glamour and beauty that Paul desires. Her stay at the Schenley, a posh hotel, may inspire Paul's flight to the Waldorf in New York.

The Yale Student -

A rich boy from San Francisco. Something unmentionable happens between Paul and this boy, who spend a night out on the town together in New York. The narrator says only that they part on bad terms, without explaining why. It is possible that a sexual encounter, or an attempt at one, ruined their friendship.

The Young Clerk -

A twenty-six-year-old man held up as an example by Paul's father. He embodies everything Paul wants to avoid in his own life. He married an unattractive woman, fathered four children, lives on Cordelia Street, and brags about his boss, a steel magnate.

Charley Edwards -

A young actor in a Pittsburgh theater troupe. He allows the protagonist to hang out backstage, help him with his costumes, and observe rehearsals. However, when the main character is forbidden to return to Carnegie Hall, this actor agrees not to see him anymore. Cather hints that the actor may recognize and share the main character's homosexual tendencies.

The Drawing Master -

One of the faculty members. He defends Paul to the other teachers, suggesting that he is disturbed rather than simply rude. He makes the only mention of Paul's dead mother in the story and worries about Paul's physical weakness.

The English Teacher -

One of the faculty members. She is clearly aware of the contempt Paul feels for her and the other teachers. She knows that he has a "physical aversion" to her that he cannot control, and this knowledge hurts her feelings. She spearheads the attack against Paul during the meeting. Later, when she attends the symphony at Carnegie Hall, she covers her confusion at encountering Paul by acting superior.

The Danger of Misunderstanding Money theme

Paul is obsessed with money, and his belief that money will solve all his problems leads to unrelenting disappointment in his life. He thinks almost constantly about the humiliation of those who have little money and the power wielded by those who possess lots of it. He keenly analyzes his own slightly impoverished existence and hates every detail: cramped houses, grubby bathrooms, simple clothes, women's inelegant conversations, and men's worshipful attitude toward their bosses. He believes that money is the one way out of the existence he loathes. But it becomes clear that Paul will never become one of the prosperous men he idealizes because he has no understanding of the relationship between work and money.

Themes

The Danger of Misunderstanding Money,

Paul -

The protagonist and antihero of the story. An idealistic, lying, suicidal young man who fits in nowhere and looks down on nearly everyone he knows. He is class-conscious and reserves his approval for rich people and those involved in the art world. Desperate for both acceptance and superiority over others, he lies about his friendships with actors to make himself seem important. He ends his life after stealing money and spending it all on a lavish spree in New York City.

Paul's Father -

in his child's view, is simply a potential disciplinarian. However, Cather portrays him as a deeply generous man who provides for his children and looks after their well-being. His concern about his son's troubles in school, his willingness to pay back the $1,000 that his son stole, and his search for his vanished son all demonstrate his deep kindness.