The Narcissitic Bouquet

Pamela J. Paras Essay 2

ENG 102:200 Fiction, out of class

February 10, 2005

The Narcissistic Bouquet

Floral Symbolism in Willa Cather?s ?Paul?s Case?

At first glance, ?Paul?s Case? by Willa Cather is simply a story about a troubled teen. He is a hellion at school, he lies to everyone he knows, and he wishes to escape his family and their financial strains. These stresses ultimately lead to his demise. Although it was evident that something was wrong with Paul, no one steps in to help him. If they had, they would have realized that while Paul does suffer from a personality disorder (likely brought on by being raised by an over-bearing, abusive father without his mother, who died when he was very young), he is a splendid bouquet struggling to survive in a desolate environment and would thrive if given the right nourishment.

Flowers play a major role in ?Paul?s Case.? The first flower that Cather brings into the story is never mentioned by name (although one of its hybrids is mentioned in paragraph 43 on page 256). Despite the exclusion of outright recognition, the flower that is blatantly evident from beginning to end is the Narcissus, the flower of egotism and self love. I believe that Paul suffers not from a bout of teenage depression but from a Narcissistic Personality Disorder. According to www.mentalhealth.com, a sufferer of NPD exhibits five or more of the following symptoms:

? A grandiose sense of self-importance (e.g., exaggerates achievements and talents, expects to be recognized as superior without commensurate achievements)
? Is preoccupied with fantasies of unlimited success, power, brilliance, beauty, or ideal love
? Believes that he is "special" and unique and can only be understood by, or should associate with, other special or high-status people (or institutions)
? Requires excessive admiration
? Has a sense of entitlement, i.e., unreasonable expectations of especially favorable treatment or automatic compliance with his or her expectations
? Is interpersonally exploitative, i.e., takes advantage of others to achieve his or her own ends
? Lacks empathy: is unwilling to recognize or identify with the feelings and needs of others
? Is often envious of others or believes that others are envious of him or her
? Shows arrogant, haughty behaviors or attitudes

Paul exhibits many of these traits, which ultimately get him kicked out of school and locked out of his ?lifelines? ? the theater group and his job at Carnegie Hall.

Incidentally, the Narcissus flower is named after the Greek God Narcissus who is remembered for having fallen in love with himself. It is said that upon Narcissus? death the nymphs, including Echo, went to gather his body for his funeral pile. They didn?t find his body, but a bunch of flowers. These blooms now bear his name. (http://homepage.mac.com/cparada/GML/Narcissus.html) This imagery is especially vivid at the end of the story when Paul jumps in front of the train. I have to believe that carnations sprung up near the train tracks every spring after Paul?s death.

The red carnation is the second most important flower in the bouquet that is Paul. This flower is mentioned by name and color on five occasions (paragraphs 1, 4, 7, 49 and 67) and is said to be ?flippant? and ?scandalous? by the teachers whom Paul abhors. Ironically, the story begins and ends with Paul wearing red carnations in his buttonhole. According to www.Flowers.org.uk, the meaning of this shade of carnation is "alas for my poor heart" which suits Paul to a tee, especially at the end when he buries one of the drooping blossoms in the snow knowing that this was symbolic of his own death that was looming just a few moments away.

Other flowers and vivid colors are mentioned in passing through out the story, but still hold meaning in the grand scheme of Paul?s life. Rich reds and purples along with the Belladonna plant, fresh roses, violets, lilies-of-the-valley, palms and jonquils (which, incidentally, is a hybrid of the Narcissus family.)

At the beginning of the story, Paul?s eyes are described as looking like he was addicted to ?Belladonna? (paragraph 2, page 245). The Belladonna, also known as Devil's Cherries, Devil's Herb or Deadly Nightshade, has narcotic, diuretic, sedative and antispasmodic properties. It?s valuable in the treatment of eye diseases, since Atropine, which is extracted from the plant, dilates the pupil. High doeses are lethal, though, and the mention of such a powerful and deadly plant seems to be a premonition.

Roses, jonquils, palms and lilies-of-the-valley are only mentioned by name once each, although we must believe that they are present in the many bouquets of ?fresh flowers? that Paul mentions throughout the story. They each are rich in symbolism. Roses are ?the flower of love?, while the lily-of-the-valley stands for beauty, gaiety and coquetry and the jonquil stands for the ?desire for affection returned?. The palm is usually carried as an emblem of victory, success, or joy.

Violets are the last of the flowers in Paul?s bouquet. They are mentioned twice. A third mention of the plant is found in paragraph 28
(page 253) when Paul uses ?violet water? on his hands to mask the smell of ?greasy dishwater? before going to visit his friends at the stock company. These flowers are symbolic for faithfulness. The color is symbolic, too, as purple hues symbolize royalty and luxury.

In contrast, Paul?s family life is described as a ?grey monotony? which is suffocating him slowly. (Greys impart void, emptiness, lack of emotion and warmth.) He detests his street, which is ?ugly and common? (paragraph 20, page 250). He detests his home with it?s kitchen odors and, especially, his ?horrible yellow? room (paragraph 19, page 250). He simply longs for ?cool things and soft lights and fresh flowers? (paragraph 20, page 250). He manages to not wither in this bland monotony by spending time away from home. He finds joy in the arts (ie, the stock company theater group and on the job at Carnegie Hall). His frustrated father finally blocks that life-giving ray of sunlight from Paul?s life thus causing him to seek nourishment elsewhere even if it means doing so illegally.

Paul wanted to sit among the fabulous. Not as a musician or actor, but as a bystander ? the same way an elaborate vase of flowers sits on a highly decorated table in a room full of important people. Stealing money from his employer and escaping to New York was a last-ditch attempt at survival. He knew that it would end in his death as he bought a revolver on his first day in the city (paragraphs 63-63, page 261). But the inevitable was not going to prevent him from blossoming in full and shining brilliantly for the world to see. Just as every flower must wither and die, so must it show its splendid beauty, albeit briefly, to the world.

Cather writes, ?The carnations were drooping with cold, he noticed; all their red glory over. ? It was one splendid breath they had, in spite of their brave mockery at the winter ? It was a losing game in the end, it seemed, this revolt against the homilies by which the world is run. Paul took one of the blossoms carefully from his coat ad scooped a little hole in the snow, where he covered it up? (paragraph 67, page 262). Paul IS this flower. His flight to New York was his ?revolt? although it was a ?brave mockery? of his life back on Cordelia Street. In the end, he, too, was drooping from the cold (literally and figuratively) and was nearing his end, his death and burial right there in the snow by the train tracks. His body was to the train, as the carnation was to his hand.

This bouquet, which was comprised of egotism and self love ( Narcissus), deadly foreboding (Belladonna), love (roses), self pity (red carnations), coquetry (lily-of-the-vally), a strong desire for the return of affection (jonquil), faithfulness (violets), and, ultimately a victory over the oppressive ?grayness? of life on Cordelia Street (palms), has withered, died and been buried. The rich reds (symbolic for determination, passion, desire, and love) and the purples (symbolic for royalty; power, nobility, luxury, and ambition. conveying wealth and extravagance) have faded to ?black? (paragraph 69, page 262).