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An Analysis Of Willa Cather 's ' The Clemency Of The Court '

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Bradley Lewellyn
Mr. Rutledge
English 3 DC - Period 3
11/30/2015
Literary Comparison Essay Draft #2 Since the establishment of the colonies, America has been viewed as the “land of opportunity.” It is thought to be a safe haven for immigrants, and a chance at a new beginning for others. “The Clemency of the Court” by Willa Cather published in 1893, tells the story of Serge, a Russian immigrant, who overcame the struggles of a tough childhood and fled to America to receive protection from the state. “Clothes” by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni published in 1995, tells the story of Sumita, a Indian immigrant, who is moving to America so that she can marry her husband that her family has arranged for her. Both “The Clemency of the Court” and “Clothes” show the evolution of the American immigrant experience. In “The Clemency of the Court,” the main character Serge grew up thinking that the State would always be there to protect him. With the story being published in 1893, there is quite a gap in between how we used to view immigrants and how we view them now. Cather shows that the treatment of immigrants was actually very similar to how it is now. The State is responsible for taking care of its children, especially its orphans. Instead of being taken in by the State, Serge is left to be independent as he has been all his life. Serge is viewed as an outcast, he can’t provide for himself and is looked down upon for being an immigrant. Immigrants are often viewed as weak because in

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