Neighbour Rosicky
Encyclopedia
"Neighbour Rosicky" is a short story by Willa Cather
. It appeared in the Woman's Home Companion
in 1930 and was published in the collection Obscure Destinies in 1932.
The Rosicky family’s kindness is reflected in Dr. Burleigh’s (who the family refers to as “Dr. Ed”) recollection of the hospitality shown in their home after delivering a neighbor’s baby. He feels sorry for them, as they never flourish in life despite their compassion for others.
When he arrives home he explains to his wife that his heart “ain’t so good like it used to be.” Together they recall their loving marriage and the difference between themselves and the other farmers in the area. The Rosickys prefer to live happy and keep their children healthy, rather than having money and selling their cream off to a creamery.
Rosicky spends his time that winter staying indoors doing carpentry and tailoring. He kept all of his tools in on a shelf in “Father’s corner.” While sewing, he begins thinking about his past tailoring in New York City
when he first came to America. Although his wages were adequate, he did not save any money because he loaned it out to friends, went to the opera, and spent it on girls. He was unhappy in the city, and realized that he needed to be in contact with the earth. When he is 35, he moves west to Nebraska to start a new life as a farmer.
, Rosicky is reminded of his time in London, where he was faced with the difficulties of finding food and shelter. He begins to worry about the crops and if they will be able to handle the tough winter that is ahead of them. Mary attempts to lighten the mood by reminding him of how one year the heat destroyed the crops around the Fourth of July and how he showed no despair and continued on with the day as planned. This is followed by numerous stories told back and forth amongst the family, one of which when Rosicky was in London and stole a goose from his landlady. Afterwards, he felt such guilt that he searched the city to find a way to replace it, where he met wealthy Czechs who gave him the money he needed. Polly was extremely moved by this story and decided that she wants to invite Rudolph’s family to their home for New Year’s dinner.
At the end of the story, Dr. Burleigh stops at the graveyard where Rosicky is buried to pay his respects. He reflects on Rosicky’s fulfilling life and how it “seemed to him complete and beautiful.”
migrated in 1883 with her family to the plains of Nebraska. This move gave her firsthand experience in order to write stories of the immigrant experience. Clifton Fadiman, in a review of Cather’s work, states “no one has better commemorated the virtues of the Bohemian and Scandinavian immigrants whose enterprise and heroism won an empire.”
In “Neighbour Rosicky” Cather portrays a realistic image of the immigration and settlement process, through Anton Rosicky’s story. She specifically represents the Czech immigrant
ideals which are independence, hard work, family unity, and freedom.
Willa Cather
Willa Seibert Cather was an American author who achieved recognition for her novels of frontier life on the Great Plains, in works such as O Pioneers!, My Ántonia, and The Song of the Lark. In 1923 she was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for One of Ours , a novel set during World War I...
. It appeared in the Woman's Home Companion
Woman's Home Companion
Woman's Home Companion was an American monthly publication, published from 1873 to 1957. It was highly successful, climbing to a circulation peak of more than four million during the 1930s and 1940s....
in 1930 and was published in the collection Obscure Destinies in 1932.
Part One
“Neighbour Rosicky” is the story of a 65-year-old Czech farmer, Anton Rosicky, who now resides in Nebraska with his wife and six children. The story begins with Anton at Dr. Ed Burleigh’s office, where he learns that he has a bad heart. The doctor informs him that he can no longer continue to work the fields, and should stick to less strenuous chores about the home and barn.The Rosicky family’s kindness is reflected in Dr. Burleigh’s (who the family refers to as “Dr. Ed”) recollection of the hospitality shown in their home after delivering a neighbor’s baby. He feels sorry for them, as they never flourish in life despite their compassion for others.
Part Two
On his way home from the doctor’s, Rosicky stops at the general store to buy fabric and candy for his wife. Before returning home, he stops to admire the graveyard that borders his property. The snow reminds him that winter brings rest for nature and man.When he arrives home he explains to his wife that his heart “ain’t so good like it used to be.” Together they recall their loving marriage and the difference between themselves and the other farmers in the area. The Rosickys prefer to live happy and keep their children healthy, rather than having money and selling their cream off to a creamery.
Part Three
Out of worry, Mary travels to see Dr. Burleigh to find out more about Rosicky’s heart. After her visit, she talks with her boys to make sure that he is not doing anythinng too strenuous. Finally, Rosicky stops fighting and gives in to the doctor’s orders.Rosicky spends his time that winter staying indoors doing carpentry and tailoring. He kept all of his tools in on a shelf in “Father’s corner.” While sewing, he begins thinking about his past tailoring in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
when he first came to America. Although his wages were adequate, he did not save any money because he loaned it out to friends, went to the opera, and spent it on girls. He was unhappy in the city, and realized that he needed to be in contact with the earth. When he is 35, he moves west to Nebraska to start a new life as a farmer.
Part Four
Rosicky’s oldest son, Rudolph, and his “American” wife, Polly, rent a farm close by. Rosicky is worried about their marriage because Polly is a city girl, not used to having to be on a farm. He is concerned that because of Polly’s unhappiness, Rudolph will take a job in the city where he can make more money, and she can be around the life she is accustomed to. Rosicky offers to loan them the family car to go into town that evening, and whenever else they wish. To make sure they go out that night, Rosicky also does the dishes and cleans up the kitchen for Polly.Part Five
On the day before ChristmasChristmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
, Rosicky is reminded of his time in London, where he was faced with the difficulties of finding food and shelter. He begins to worry about the crops and if they will be able to handle the tough winter that is ahead of them. Mary attempts to lighten the mood by reminding him of how one year the heat destroyed the crops around the Fourth of July and how he showed no despair and continued on with the day as planned. This is followed by numerous stories told back and forth amongst the family, one of which when Rosicky was in London and stole a goose from his landlady. Afterwards, he felt such guilt that he searched the city to find a way to replace it, where he met wealthy Czechs who gave him the money he needed. Polly was extremely moved by this story and decided that she wants to invite Rudolph’s family to their home for New Year’s dinner.
Part Six
At the end of the story, Rosicky imagines the future of his children and hopes that they do not suffer like he did throughout the beginning part of his life. Rosicky goes to Rudolph’s farm to help him tend to the wheat. The strenuous labor causes him to have a heart attack, and Polly comes to Rosicky’s aid and calls him “Father” for the first time. She realizes that his gratefulness and compassion comes across as a love that no one has ever shown her before. Rudolph and Polly later take Rosicky back to his home, where he dies the next morning.At the end of the story, Dr. Burleigh stops at the graveyard where Rosicky is buried to pay his respects. He reflects on Rosicky’s fulfilling life and how it “seemed to him complete and beautiful.”
Literary Criticism
Willa CatherWilla Cather
Willa Seibert Cather was an American author who achieved recognition for her novels of frontier life on the Great Plains, in works such as O Pioneers!, My Ántonia, and The Song of the Lark. In 1923 she was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for One of Ours , a novel set during World War I...
migrated in 1883 with her family to the plains of Nebraska. This move gave her firsthand experience in order to write stories of the immigrant experience. Clifton Fadiman, in a review of Cather’s work, states “no one has better commemorated the virtues of the Bohemian and Scandinavian immigrants whose enterprise and heroism won an empire.”
In “Neighbour Rosicky” Cather portrays a realistic image of the immigration and settlement process, through Anton Rosicky’s story. She specifically represents the Czech immigrant
Czech American
Czech Americans are citizens of the United States who were born in, or who descended from, the territory of the historic Czech lands, , or succession states, now known as the Czech Republic...
ideals which are independence, hard work, family unity, and freedom.