Journals / Telakki Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi / 2026 / Cilt: 5 Sayı: 8

Land, Women, and Identity: Traces of Migration in Willa Cather's Novel My Ántonia

Toprak, Kadın ve Kimlik: Willa Cather'ın My Ántonia Romanından Göçün İzleri

Binnur Hattat(NİŞANTAŞI ÜNİVERSİTESİ)0009-0003-8773-3513
Pages
12–19
Publication Date
2026-08-26
DOI
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

Therefore, My Ántonia shows that migration goes beyond simple relocation; it represents a process of cultural and emotional renewal.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

🎯
Objective & Hypothesis:The present research examines the cultural, socio-economic, and literary aspects of large-scale migrations from Europe to America in the nineteenth century.
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Key Findings & Data:The paper analyzes Willa Cather’s My Ántonia (1918), focusing on the impact of immigrant women on the development of American national identity and how their experiences reflect both obvious and complex aspects of migration.
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Conclusion & Impact:Therefore, My Ántonia shows that migration goes beyond simple relocation; it represents a process of cultural and emotional renewal.
🔬Design:Araştırma Makalesi
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:Ravenstein · Willa Cather · Ravenstein

Abstract

The present research examines the cultural, socio-economic, and literary aspects of large-scale migrations from Europe to America in the nineteenth century. The paper begins by discussing the history of migration and Ravenstein’s initial “laws of migration,” and then goes on to show how these ideas are related to modern migration theories. Although Ravenstein explains migration primarily through economic factors, he does not completely disregard its social and cultural dimensions. The paper analyzes Willa Cather’s My Ántonia (1918), focusing on the impact of immigrant women on the development of American national identity and how their experiences reflect both obvious and complex aspects of migration. The narrative depicts the relationship of migration with nature, identity and gender within a social setting by translating Ravenstein's theoretical ideas into a human framework. Therefore, My Ántonia shows that migration goes beyond simple relocation; it represents a process of cultural and emotional renewal.

Özet

Bu çalışma, Avrupa’dan Amerika’ya on dokuzuncu yüzyılın ikinci yarısından itibaren gerçekleşen kitlesel göçün kültürel, sosyoekonomik ve edebî boyutlarıyla incelenmesini hedeflemektedir. Göçün tarihsel boyutu, Ravenstein’ın göç yasalarından başlayıp modern göç teorilerine kadar olan dönemi kapsamaktadır. Göçü ekonomik sebeplerle açıklamış olsa da göç dalgalarının toplumsal ve kültürel boyutlarını tamamen yok saymaz. Çalışmanın edebî bölümünde ise Willa Cather'ın yazdığı My Ántonia (1918) adlı eser incelenmiş ve göçmen kadınların Amerikan ulus kimliğinin oluşumundaki dolaylı ve görünmez katkıları analiz edilmiştir. Roman, Ravenstein’ın teorik ilkelerini insani bir boyuta aktararak göçün doğa, kimlik ve toplumsal cinsiyet kavramları ile nasıl harmanlandığını gösterir. Bu nedenle My Ántonia, göçün sadece bir yerden başka bir coğrafyaya yerleşmek olmadığını, aynı zamanda kültürel ve duygusal açıdan yeni bir başlangıç süreci olduğunu ortaya koyar.

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Cite This Article

Hattat, B. (2026). Land, Women, and Identity: Traces of Migration in Willa Cather's Novel My Ántonia. Telakki Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi, Cilt: 5 Sayı: 8, 12–19. https://ajindex.com/articles/1630480

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