| Willa Cather drew upon motifs, imagery, and characterizations from J. M. Barrie's Peter Pan stories for The Professor's House. Godfrey St. Peter and Tom Outland share characteristics with Peter Pan, but St. Peter is like one of the Lost Boys in the sense that, unlike Pan, he chooses to grow up. Outland, the aviator, stays young forever in the hearts of those who remember him. Barrie's Wendy and Cather's Augusta sew, tell stories, and perform as spiritual healers. Both authors focus on birth, growing up, growing old, and facing death.;Cather worked for McClure's, a journal that published works of many of hers and Barrie's mutual aquaintances. She was a drama critic during Barrie's play writing heyday. A look at some of these factors sheds light on the artistry of Willa Cather---a stellar writer of the early twentieth century. |
