Winter

The winter season was a long, hard and cold period for the people on the prairie.  With the below freezing temperatures and many feet of snow, the season was a time of troubles for people on the prairie.  Not only did winter bring in harsh conditions but it also brought a change of morale for the pioneers.  The attitudes of the characters in the novel quickly change from light-hearted to serious and severe.  Winter was a hard time and obviously the hard time can be a cause for the change in mind-set.  Numerous feet of snow make the chores and daily work much more difficult [8].  It was quite common for homesteaders to string a guide rope from their house to the barn in fear of losing one's way while doing their chores in a blizzard [2].  Cather described the snow fall as thousands of feather-beds being emptied and were spilling out of heaven [3].  The snow also meant hard back-breaking shoveling in addition to the other chores that must be done.  With all these inconveniences it is no wonder that winter was the least favorite season among the pioneers.

Nevertheless, the season also brought in a very depressing atmosphere.  The colors quickly become blanketed by the dull grayness of the sky along with the plain white snow.  The exciting activities of mother nature seem to halt and become lifeless.  The cold air nulls and slows your body leaving you to move in slow motion extending this atrocious season.  The novel describes the lenght of the season as too long and hangs around until it is stale and shabby [12].

Furthermore, these types of winters are well-known in the Midwest and especially on the frontier.  The winter season sets apart the Midwestern region from other areas in the world.  

 

 

Back to Homepage            Back to Autumn            Next Season

Eng217                Workscited

Linkage to Literature