A Wagner Matinée

by

Willa Cather

Black

The color black symbolizes the absence of vitality and culture in the story, particularly in the dull, uncivilized environment of the prairie homestead. Georgiana arrives from Nebraska wearing a duster “black with soot” and a…

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Water

Cather uses water to symbolize the renewal of dormant life, especially the revival of Georgianas soul. Not incidentally, Cather frequently associates water with music, further underscoring the latter as a source of meaning…

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