The preciousness of life is something that can often be forgotten. Things come and go, seasons change, and in a modernist culture the day can change beneath our feet in an instant. In this modernizing world, the real question is: what can withstand chaos and still be valuable? The only thought that surpasses everything is innocence. It has stood the test of time and, although it still seems unattainable, it is an immortalized virtue. Willa Cather explores this concept in A Lost Lady, as she explores how something so perfect can disappear as quickly as night falls. Cather demonstrates how, like any other purity in life, once innocence is lost, it will never again be able to light up the world as it once did. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay Niel's entire perception of the good in people disappears in a single moment, confirming the fragility of all pure things. As he happily walks towards the Forrester house, he experiences a feeling of euphoria resulting from his future meeting with Mrs. Forrester. The early morning is full of hope because the roses he has picked are just the right ones to surprise the one who was so dear to him. The connotation related to early morning reflects the brightness and absence of anything wrong that occurs later in the day. The mention of roses then appears as a symbol. Roses represent this romantic notion and engrave the thought of love and compassion in the recipient of the pretty flower. From there, Cather meticulously incorporates a clear picture of the roller coaster of emotions Niel is about to experience. In a single “instant,” Niel’s world collapses. The word instant refers to the speed with which things can change. Life can seemingly be fixed and, in the blink of an eye, left in pieces. As he leans on the windowsill, he is filled with nothing but happiness because he is about to make someone's day. However, when he rises physically, his faith falls just as quickly. Cather shows him “stooping” and “rising” to directly emphasize how quickly things are changing for Niel. This comes from the ups, downs and turmoil that can arise at any time. This contradiction shows the power of what is happening. Mrs. Forrester transitions from an immortalized figure with all the intangibles apparent in Niel's mind, to nothing more than an ordinary woman, having an affair with an unworthy man. This singular image will remain forever engraved in his thoughts and there is nothing in the world that can erase it. Once Niel lets the initial sadness enter his mind, there is simply no turning back. Cather is able to clarify this by using personification to describe the day's actions. It is affirmed that “the day has seen the end” of admiration and loyalty. While it is obvious that the day itself cannot physically see the admiration and loyalty fade, it is more about what the day represents. Cather gives this special day human characteristics to emphasize its importance. Many days in life can pass without anything remarkable happening. However, that day, she exclaims that she witnesses two vital traits leaving Niel's mind. This makes it seem like it's not even Niel who controls his emotions, but rather "Day" itself, which has been seen as the higher power and is therefore capable of causing this gloom. After the day had seen its apparent end,Cather goes on to use a simile saying that admiration and loyalty had been "like a flower in her existence." This comparison of Niel to a budding flower is intended to show that it must be taken care of and that any mistake could lead to its death. Mrs. Forrester was the hypothetical flower keeper in this scenario and she in no way cared for Niel the way he needed her to in this case. Niel's bloom was crushed just like the roses he threw away. Neil's awareness of the sinful nature of others creates in him a feeling of hopelessness. This shows the finality of his preconceived ideas about what is permanent in this world. To make this point clear, Cather uses very specific diction to describe this. In the passage, words and phrases like "end," "gone," and "never find him again" come together to form the idea that Niel's thoughts will never be the same again. He witnesses a horrible sight, and that's all it takes. Cather uses these specific words in hopes that the reader understands that there is no reconciliation. Forgiveness is irrelevant from the moment he witnesses Mrs. Forrester's actions. Along with the use of diction, Cather uses a somber tone throughout the passage to also express the misery residing within Niel. This tone increases with each sentence because it begins poorly and even provokes fear in the reader. Desperate is a word that comes to mind as everything is “destroyed” for Niel, from this particular day to all the days of life that follow. Every word that insinuates light or faith is followed by a dark undertone that continues to accentuate the despair that is building within Niel. Niel's mind had great potential, but if the circumstances remained ideal, he could blossom into something of a delicacy. Cather further explored this thought by using imagery to represent Niel as a flower. From the second the seed germinates, a wave of life is created. It must be preserved at all costs because it is “beautiful”. In the passage, there are repeated examples talking about the greatness of flowers as they are anything from a “bloom on one’s existence” to a way to brighten up the morning. Niel represents each of these qualities because he possesses the power to brighten not only his own life, but also those around him. A gift of a flower can brighten another's day, just as Niel's radiant spirit could erase Mrs. Forrester's sorrows. However, all flowers eventually see their last day. This can be the result of many things, from unfortunate circumstances to lack of care or awareness. Unfortunately, Niel is only too similar. This brilliant spirit was crushed just like the flowers this very morning, because everything had been destroyed. Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get a personalized paper now from our expert writers. Get a Custom Essay Once something is lost, even upon its return, its mere use will be cancerous by creating pain. Cather shows how something tarnished good is even worse than something eternally bad. “Lilies that become infected smell much worse than weeds.” This is an allusion to Shakespeare's Sonnet 94. The underlying meaning is that even the largest flower, once withered, is of no use. Shakespeare claims that even a “weedy herb” is more attractive than a withered lily. The aftermath of the lily is just a reminder of how awesome it was, only to come back to reality with the idea that it will never be like this again. This is how Cather chose to portray Mrs. Forrester because she was once the big lily, and now just any bad..