“On the Gull’s Road” by Willa Cather

Summary

“On the Gull's Road” (1908) by Willa Cather is a moving account of unrequited love with Alexandra Deppling on a ship from Genoa to New York City, her irresistible beauty despite illness and a dandy of a husband.

Characters

Alexandra Ebbling- has a splendid, vigorous body, with red-gold hair drenched with sunlight.

Lars Ebbling- an unrefined character to his wife's more delicate nature

The narrator- An ambitious, kind painter who takes an interest in the ill Alexandra Ebbling.

Mrs. Hemway- A helper of the narrator

Carin Ebbling- The energetic daughter of Alexandra and Lars Ebbling

Niels Nannestad- The father of Alexandra Ebbling

 

Plot Elements

Exposition – The narrator meets another painter who asks him about his painting of Alexandra Ebbling.

Rising Action – The narrator meets Alexandra on a ship going to New York City. They speak to each other while they watch the ocean. The narrator then paints a portrait of her.

Climax – When Alexandra’s husband goes down to see a concert, the narrator asks her to run away with him because her husband neglects her. She refuses and promptly leaves the ship, giving the narrator a box that he should open only when she tells him to by letter.

Resolution – The next year in March, he receives two letters from Alexandra and her father. Her father’s letter states that she has died. Alexandra’s letter tells him why she couldn’t leave with him and tells him to open the box. In the box is a cut piece of her hair, a withered magnolia flower, and two pink seashells.

Analysis

The story is about an unnamed narrator boarding a ship to New York City. On the ship, he meets a beautiful woman named Alexandra Ebbling. With Alexandra was her daughter, Carin, and her husband, Lars Ebbling. Lars seems to stray from Alexandra and flirt with other women. Although Alexandra most likely knows of this, she does and says nothing of it. Carin seems to be hyper and full of energy, just as any child is.

The narrator quickly becomes entranced by Alexandra and strikes up multiple conversations with her as the days go by, even painting a portrait of her. One night, when her husband leaves to watch a concert, the narrator asks her to leave with him. Being ill, she refuses, and a few days later, she gives him a box that the narrator can’t open until she tells him to. Around a year later in March, the narrator receives a letter from Alexandra and a letter from her father, Niels Nannestad. Niels’ letter says that Alexandra has passed away at the ripe age of 26. Alexandra’s letter says that the narrator can now open the box she gave him. In the box was a cut piece of her hair, a withered magnolia flower, and two pink seashells. Cather did an excellent job of describing the scenery, along with the people.

The ending to this story is a bit bittersweet. The deteriorated magnolia flower makes readers look back to when Alexandra was alive, and all the time she spent with the narrator. What makes it even sadder was the fact that readers knew that it was a long time coming, knowing how weak and sick she was. Her father’s letter just made it all the more depressing. The part I was saddened by most was the fact that the narrator didn’t get to say a proper goodbye to her before she passed away. All the narrator had left of her was the box she’d left for him and all the items in it.