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 shift beneath our feet in an instant. In this modernizing world, the real question that arises is: what can resist chaos and remain valuable? The one thought that stands above everything is innocence. It has stood the test of time and, while seemingly always unattainable, is an immortalized virtue. Willa Cather explores this concept in A Lost Lady, as she delves into how something so perfect can vanish as quickly as darkness falls. Cather demonstrates how, like every other purity in life, once innocence is lost, it can never go back to lighting up the world like it once did. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Niel's entire perception of the good in people vanishes in a single instant, confirming the fragility of all pure things. As he joyfully walks towards the Forrester house, he experiences an effect resulting from his future meeting with Mrs. Forrester. The early morning is full of hope because the roses he has picked are perfect for surprising the one who was so dear to him. The connotation relating to early morning reflects the brightness and absence of all the bad things that happen later in the day. From then on the mention of roses became a symbol. Roses represent this romantic notion and engrave the thought of love and compassion in the recipient of the beautiful flower. From that point Cather meticulously incorporates a clear image of the roller coaster of emotions Niel is about to endure. In a single “instant,” Niel's world collapses. The word instant has a connotation of how quickly things can change. It seems that life can be fixed and in the blink of an eye be left in pieces. As he leans over the windowsill he is filled with nothing but happiness as he is about to brighten someone's day. However, when he gets back up physically, his faith declines just as quickly. Cather shows him "stooping down" and "standing up" to directly emphasize how quickly things are changing for Niel. It originates from the ups, downs and turmoil that can occur at any time. This contradiction shows the power of what is happening. Mrs. Forrester makes the transition from an immortalized figure with all the apparent intangibles in Niel's mind, to nothing more than an ordinary woman, having an affair with an unworthy man. That singular image will forever remain imprinted in his thoughts and there is nothing powerful in the world that can erase it. Once Niel allows the initial sadness to enter his mind, there is simply no going back. Cather is able to clarify this as she uses personification to describe the actions of the day. It is stated that “the day saw the end” of admiration and loyalty. While it is clear that the day itself cannot physically see admiration and loyalty vanish, it is even more so for what the day represents. Cather is giving this particular day human characteristics to emphasize its importance. Many days in life can pass without anything noteworthy happening. However, on this day he exclaims that he witnesses two vital traits leaving Niel's mind. It seems that it is not even Niel who is in control of his emotions, but rather "Day" itself, which has been considered the higher power and is therefore capable of causing such darkness. After the day sees its apparent end, Cather continues using a simile by saying that admiration and theloyalties had been "like a flowering in his existence". This comparison between Niel and a budding flower shows that he must be taken care of and that any mistake could result in his death. Mrs. Forrester was the hypothetical caretaker of the flowers in this scenario and never took care of Niel the way he needed her to in this case. Niel's bloom was crushed just like the roses he threw away. Neil's realization of the sinful nature of others creates a sense of desperation in him. It shows the finality of his preconceived notions of what is permanent in this world. To make this point clear, Cather uses very specific diction to describe it. In the passage, words and phrases such as “end,” “gone,” and “never get him back” come together to form the idea that Niel's thoughts will never be the same again. He witnesses a horrific sight, and that's all it takes. Cather uses these specific words in hopes that the reader will understand that there is no reconciliation. Forgiveness is out of the picture from the moment he witnesses Mrs. Forrester's actions. Along with the use of diction, Cather uses a dark tone throughout the passage to also convey the misery that resides within Niel. This tone develops with each sentence as it starts off poorly and even proceeds to cause fear in the reader. Hopeless is a word that comes to mind as everything is “destroyed” for Niel, from this particular day to all the subsequent days that follow. Any word that insinuates light or faith is followed by a dark undertone that continues to raise the point of desperation that haunts Niel's spirit. Niel had great potential, whereas if the circumstances had remained ideal, he could have blossomed into a kind of delicacy. Cather refined this thought by using imagery to represent Niel as a flower. From the moment the seed germinates, a wave of life is created. This must be preserved at all costs because it is "beautiful". Within the passage, there are repeated examples that speak to the greatness of flowers as they are anything from a “bloom in its existence” to a way to cheer up the morning. Niel represents each of these qualities as he possesses the power to brighten not only his life, but the lives of those around him. The gift of a flower can brighten another's day, just as Niel's bright spirit could erase Mrs. Forrester's sorrows. However, all flowers sooner or later see their last day. This can be the result of many things, from unfortunate circumstances to a lack of care or awareness. Unfortunately, Niel is all too similar. That bright spirit was crushed just like the flowers that very morning, for everything had been destroyed. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay Once something is lost, even upon its return it is only the use will be carcinogenic in creating pain. Cather shows how something good tarnished is even worse than something eternally bad. “Rotting lilies 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 “weed” is more attractive than a withered lily. The aftermath of the lily is just a reminder of how beautiful it once was, only to then return to reality with the idea that it will never be that way again. This is how Cather chose to represent Mrs. Forrester as she was once the great lily, and now any grass, or common person, is preferable. Another way this is transcribed is through the direct characterization of Mrs. Forrester. It's a..