Ripening_VVG Claude_NP1 :_: Willa_NP1 Cather_NP1 's_VBZ One_MC1 of_IO Ours_PPGE and_CC the_AT Philosophy_NN1 of_IO Henri_NP1 Bergson_NP1 When_RRQ Willa_NP1 Cather_NP1 published_VVD One_MC1 of_IO Ours_PPGE in_II 1922_MC ,_, she_PPHS1 set_VVD off_RP a_AT1 debate_NN1 over_II the_AT novel_NN1 's_GE relative_JJ sophistication_NN1 that_CST became_VVD more_RGR rigid_JJ with_IW each_DD1 passing_JJ decade_NNT1 ._. 
Although_CS the_AT novel_NN1 won_VVD the_AT Pulitzer_NP1 Prize_NN1 and_CC found_VVD many_DA2 admiring_JJ readers_NN2 who_PNQS wept_VVD over_II the_AT death_NN1 of_IO Claude_NP1 Wheeler_NP1 ,_, some_DD of_IO Cather_NP1 's_GE famous_JJ contemporaries_NN2 mocked_VVD her_APPGE "_" sentimentality_NN1 ._. "_" 
By_II the_AT century_NNT1 's_GE end_NN1 ,_, critics_NN2 unwilling_JJ to_TO accept_VVI the_AT novel_NN1 's_GE apparent_JJ endorsement_NN1 of_IO war_NN1 claimed_VVD to_TO discover_VVI irony_NN1 ._. 
Claude_NP1 was_VBDZ a_AT1 dupe_NN1 ,_, they_PPHS2 argued_VVD ,_, a_AT1 victim_NN1 of_IO his_APPGE own_DA navete_NN1 ._. 
Along_II the_AT way_NN1 ,_, a_AT1 few_DA2 readers_NN2 suspected_VVD that_CST the_AT novel_NN1 was_VBDZ more_RGR complex_JJ than_CSN this_DD1 ._. 
Steven_NP1 Trout_NN provides_VVZ the_AT departure_NN1 point_NN1 for_IF a_AT1 new_JJ generation_NN1 of_IO criticism_NN1 by_II explaining_VVG that_CST "_" the_AT text_NN1 engages_VVZ the_AT reader_NN1 in_II a_AT1 complex_JJ and_CC unsettling_VVG analysis_NN1 ._. "_" 
In_II the_AT essay_NN1 that_CST follows_VVZ ,_, I_PPIS1 argue_VV0 that_CST this_DD1 "_" analysis_NN1 "_" is_VBZ rooted_VVN in_II the_AT philosophy_NN1 of_IO Henri_NP1 Bergson_NP1 ._. 
Inspired_VVN by_II this_DD1 popular_JJ French_JJ philosopher_NN1 ,_, Cather_NP1 neither_RR endorses_VVZ nor_CC undermines_VVZ her_APPGE hero_NN1 ._. 
Instead_RR ,_, she_PPHS1 seems_VVZ to_TO be_VBI exploring_VVG a_AT1 question_NN1 that_CST captivated_VVD the_AT industrialized_JJ world_NN1 in_II the_AT aftermath_NN1 of_IO World_NN1 War_NN1 I_ZZ1 :_: how_RRQ can_VM a_AT1 human_JJ being_NN1 evolve_VV0 authentically_RR in_II a_AT1 mechanistic_JJ age_NN1 ?_? 
From_II the_AT first_MD ,_, Cather_NP1 's_GE most_RGT influential_JJ readers_NN2 directed_VVD attention_NN1 elsewhere_RL ._. 
Mencken_NN1 ,_, Lewis_NP1 ,_, Hemingway_NP1 ,_, and_CC Wilson_NP1 saw_VVD the_AT work_NN1 as_II a_AT1 failed_JJ attempt_NN1 to_TO sentimentalize_VVI war_NN1 ._. 
Hemingway_NP1 's_GE infamous_JJ letter_NN1 to_II Wilson_NP1 neatly_RR illustrates_VVZ the_AT line_NN1 of_IO thinking_NN1 :_: "_" Then_RT look_VV0 at_II One_MC1 of_IO Ours_PPGE ._. 
Prize_NN1 ,_, big_JJ sale_NN1 ,_, people_NN taking_VVG it_PPH1 seriously_RR ._. 
You_PPY were_VBDR in_II the_AT war_NN1 were_VBDR n't_XX you_PPY ?_? "_" 
Cather_NP1 ,_, in_II the_AT words_NN2 of_IO Cooperman_NP1 ,_, was_VBDZ leaning_VVG "_" upon_II the_AT stereotypes_NN2 of_IO war_NN1 rhetoric_NN1 ._. "_" 
In_II sum_NN1 ,_, the_AT novel_NN1 was_VBDZ about_II war_NN1 ,_, which_DDQ no_AT woman_NN1 could_VM ever_RR fathom_VVI ._. 
The_AT flaws_NN2 in_II this_DD1 approach_NN1 are_VBR ,_, of_RR21 course_RR22 ,_, manifold_NN1 ._. 
We_PPIS2 can_VM only_RR imagine_VVI how_RRQ skewed_VVD our_APPGE understanding_NN1 of_IO Song_NN1 of_IO the_AT Lark_NN1 would_VM be_VBI had_VHN critics_NN2 judged_VVN the_AT work_NN1 based_VVN on_II their_APPGE own_DA anxious_JJ participation_NN1 in_II opera_NN1 ._. 
Nevertheless_RR ,_, critics_NN2 have_VH0 liked_VVN to_TO rehearse_VVI Hemingway_NP1 's_GE famous_JJ yet_RR spurious_JJ remark_NN1 that_CST Cather_NP1 had_VHD filched_VVN her_APPGE battle_NN1 scenes_NN2 from_II D._NP1 W._NP1 Griffith_NP1 's_GE Birth_NN1 of_IO a_AT1 Nation_NN1 ._. 
In_II fact_NN1 ,_, no_AT clear_JJ line_NN1 of_IO influence_NN1 exists_VVZ between_II the_AT two_MC works_NN ,_, and_CC we_PPIS2 know_VV0 that_CST a_AT1 New_NP1 York_NP1 Times_NNT2 account_NN1 of_IO her_APPGE cousin_NN1 's_GE death_NN1 ,_, among_II other_JJ sources_NN2 ,_, gave_VVD shape_NN1 to_II Claude_NP1 's_GE death_NN1 ._. 
Far_RR from_II offering_VVG thoughtful_JJ appraisal_NN1 ,_, Hemingway_NP1 and_CC his_APPGE compatriots_NN2 were_VBDR intent_JJ on_II guarding_VVG male_JJ territory_NN1 ._. 
Cather_NP1 certainly_RR had_VHN a_AT1 response_NN1 to_II such_DA criticism_NN1 ._. 
Citing_VVG the_AT example_NN1 of_IO Stephen_NP1 Crane_NP1 ,_, whose_DDQGE novel_NN1 of_IO war_NN1 did_VDD not_XX derive_VVI from_II his_APPGE experience_NN1 in_II combat_NN1 ,_, Cather_NP1 said_VVD ,_, "_" He_PPHS1 knew_VVD that_CST the_AT movement_NN1 of_IO troops_NN2 was_VBDZ the_AT officers_NN2 '_GE business_NN1 ,_, not_XX his_PPGE ._. "_" 
Taking_VVG his_APPGE cue_NN1 from_II Cather_NP1 ,_, Woodress_NP1 offers_VVZ a_AT1 more_RGR complete_JJ correction_NN1 :_: "_" Critics_NN2 who_PNQS objected_VVD to_II a_AT1 war_NN1 novel_NN1 by_II someone_PN1 who_PNQS had_VHD no_AT experience_NN1 of_IO war_NN1 did_VDD not_XX make_VVI the_AT connection_NN1 between_II One_MC1 of_IO Ours_PPGE and_CC authors_NN2 like_II Homer_NP1 ,_, Tolstoy_NP1 ,_, and_CC Stephen_NP1 Crane_NP1 ,_, all_DB of_IO whom_PNQO managed_VVD very_RG good_JJ accounts_NN2 of_IO war_NN1 without_IW having_VHG been_VBN soldiers_NN2 in_II the_AT conflicts_NN2 they_PPHS2 described_VVD ._. "_" 
In_II fact_NN1 ,_, as_CSA Trout_NN points_VVZ out_RP ,_, the_AT novel_NN1 's_GE avid_JJ fans_NN2 "_" included_VVD army_NN1 veterans_NN2 who_PNQS apparently_RR possessed_VVN more_RGR firsthand_JJ knowledge_NN1 of_IO modern_JJ warfare_NN1 than_CSN any_DD of_IO Cather_NP1 's_GE critics_NN2 ,_, including_II Hemingway_NP1 ._. "_" 
In_II this_DD1 way_NN1 ,_, Cather_NP1 's_GE bona_NN221 fides_NN222 were_VBDR defended_VVN ,_, but_CCB the_AT scope_NN1 of_IO her_APPGE endeavor_NN1 was_VBDZ radically_RR curtailed_VVN :_: One_MC1 of_IO Ours_PPGE remained_VVD for_IF many_DA2 people_NN ,_, quite_RG simply_RR ,_, a_AT1 "_" war_NN1 novel_NN1 ._. "_" 
In_II 1975_MC ,_, David_NP1 Stouck_NP1 held_VVD fast_RR to_II this_DD1 frame_NN1 ,_, arguing_VVG that_CST "_" The_AT author_NN1 's_GE stylistic_JJ intention_NN1 was_VBDZ not_XX to_TO describe_VVI the_AT war_NN1 in_II a_AT1 realistic_JJ manner_NN1 ,_, but_CCB to_TO reflect_VVI the_AT romantic_JJ aura_NN1 that_CST for_IF so_RG many_DA2 men_NN2 gathered_VVN around_II the_AT experience_NN1 ._. "_" 
Jean_NP1 Schwind_NP1 extended_VVD this_DD1 line_NN1 of_IO argument_NN1 :_: "_" Far_RR from_II extolling_VVG Claude_NP1 's_GE 'fulfillment'_NN1 on_II the_AT battlefield_NN1 ,_, Cather_NP1 insists_VVZ that_CST Claude_NP1 dies_VVZ doubly_RR duped_VVN ._. "_" 
In_II the_AT same_DA spirit_NN1 ,_, Merrill_NP1 Maguire_NP1 Skaggs_NP1 saw_VVD a_AT1 war_NN1 novel_NN1 "_" bathed_VVN and_CC saturated_VVN in_II irony_NN1 ._. "_" 
Calling_VVG the_AT book_NN1 "_" a_AT1 painful_JJ and_CC unsatisfactory_JJ book_NN1 ,_, "_" Hermione_NP1 Lee_NP1 offered_VVD a_AT1 summation_NN1 :_: "_" We_PPIS2 are_VBR left_VVN with_IW a_AT1 conscientious_JJ but_CCB not_XX always_RR convincing_JJ attempt_NN1 to_TO dignify_VVI the_AT war_NN1 into_II historical_JJ epic_NN1 while_CS 'telling_VVG it_PPH1 like_II it_PPH1 was_VBDZ ._. '_" "_" 
For_IF Janis_NP1 P._NP1 Stout_NN1 ,_, Cather_NP1 "_" had_VHD shown_VVN the_AT soldier_NN1 himself_PPX1 as_CSA deluded_VVN ._. "_" 
Nearly_RR seventy_MC years_NNT2 after_II its_APPGE publication_NN1 ,_, the_AT novel_NN1 continued_VVD to_TO breed_VVI binary_JJ and_CC bellicose_JJ oppositions_NN2 ._. 
It_PPH1 was_VBDZ either_RR idealistic_JJ or_CC realistic_JJ ,_, either_RR romantic_JJ or_CC ironic_JJ ._. 
War_NN1 was_VBDZ either_RR good_JJ or_CC bad_JJ ._. 
Cather_NP1 was_VBDZ either_RR ignorant_JJ or_CC savvy_NN1 ._. 
Claude_NP1 was_VBDZ either_RR fool_VV0 or_CC hero_NN1 ._. 
The_AT author_NN1 of_IO Time_NNT1 and_CC Free_JJ Will_NP1 leaves_VVZ little_RR doubt_VVI that_DD1 human_JJ beings_NN2 ought_VMK to_TO aim_VVI for_IF a_AT1 conduct_NN1 that_CST epitomizes_VVZ the_AT originality_NN1 of_IO their_APPGE evolving_JJ being_NN1 ._. 
Human_JJ beings_NN2 ought_VMK to_TO emerge_VVI as_II themselves_PPX2 ._. 
After_CS the_AT fact_NN1 ,_, after_CS a_AT1 war_NN1 for_REX21 instance_REX22 ,_, the_AT "_" intellect_NN1 "_" busies_VVZ itself_PPX1 with_IW "_" resolving_VVG ._. "_" 
Delivering_VVG this_DD1 French_JJ imperative_NN1 to_II the_AT shores_NN2 of_IO the_AT English-speaking_JJ world_NN1 ,_, Arthur_NP1 Mitchell_NP1 translated_VVD Bergson_NP1 's_GE "_" maturation_NN1 graduelle_NN1 "_" into_II "_" ripens_VVZ gradually_RR ._. "_" 
This_DD1 botanical_JJ language_NN1 will_VM ,_, of_RR21 course_RR22 ,_, be_VBI central_JJ to_II Cather_NP1 's_GE story_NN1 of_IO Claude_NP1 in_II the_AT corn_NN1 fields_NN2 ,_, a_AT1 character_NN1 who_PNQS ought_VMK to_TO be_VBI judged_VVN (_( I_PPIS1 would_VM argue_VVI )_) not_XX for_IF his_APPGE achievement_NN1 in_II31 relation_II32 to_II33 some_DD goal_NN1 but_II21 for_II22 the_AT quality_NN1 of_IO his_APPGE ripening_JJ as_CSA Cather_NP1 resolves_VVZ it_PPH1 ._. 
This_DD1 process_NN1 informs_VVZ the_AT novel_NN1 from_II the_AT outset_NN1 as_II the_AT narrator_NN1 depicts_VVZ Claude_NP1 in_II a_AT1 variety_NN1 of_IO situations_NN2 along_II Lovely_JJ Creek_NN1 ._. 
Time_NNT1 after_II time_NNT1 ,_, we_PPIS2 share_VV0 Claude_NP1 's_GE own_DA appraisals_NN2 of_IO himself_PPX1 and_CC match_VV0 them_PPHO2 against_II the_AT evaluations_NN2 of_IO family_NN1 and_CC friends_NN2 ._. 
Perhaps_RR because_II21 of_II22 all_DB this_DD1 collation_NN1 ,_, readers_NN2 feel_VV0 that_CST they_PPHS2 have_VH0 plenty_PN of_IO data_NN with_IW which_DDQ to_TO judge_VVI the_AT hero_NN1 ._. 
Indeed_RR ,_, critics_NN2 have_VH0 been_VBN neither_RR kind_JJ nor_CC fair_JJ to_II Claude_NP1 ._. 
Cooperman_NN1 sees_VVZ him_PPHO1 as_RG little_DA1 more_DAR than_CSN a_AT1 "_" good-natured_JJ hired_JJ hand_NN1 ._. "_" 
As_CSA Skaggs_NP1 tells_VVZ us_PPIO2 ,_, "_" Claude_NP1 is_VBZ not_XX a_AT1 thinker_NN1 ._. "_" 
She_PPHS1 adds_VVZ ,_, "_" He_PPHS1 is_VBZ not_XX meant_VVN to_TO be_VBI a_AT1 spokesman_NN1 for_IF serious_JJ people_NN ._. "_" 
Such_DA preemptory_JJ sketches_NN2 need_VV0 to_TO be_VBI resisted_VVN because_CS they_PPHS2 underestimate_VV0 Cather_NP1 's_GE interrogative_JJ strategy_NN1 ._. 
The_AT narrator_NN1 may_VM conjure_VVI up_RP authority_NN1 in_II the_AT manner_NN1 of_IO a_AT1 small_JJ town_NN1 gossip_NN1 ,_, but_CCB the_AT meaningful_JJ clues_NN2 to_II Claude_NP1 's_VBZ being_VBG lie_NN1 in_II Claude_NP1 's_GE thoughts_NN2 ,_, which_DDQ have_VH0 merged_VVN irretrievably_RR with_IW those_DD2 of_IO the_AT author_NN1 ._. 
As_II the_AT author_NN1 admitted_VVD ,_, "_" I_PPIS1 came_VVD to_TO know_VVI that_DD1 boy_NN1 better_RRR than_CSN I_PPIS1 know_VV0 myself_PPX1 ._. "_" 
Attention_NN1 to_II Cather_NP1 's_GE compositional_JJ habits_NN2 further_RRR complicates_VVZ simple_JJ summaries_NN2 of_IO Claude_NP1 's_GE character_NN1 ._. 
We_PPIS2 all_DB know_VV0 that_CST Cather_NP1 relished_VVD the_AT Bildungsroman_NN1 ._. 
For_IF Cather_NP1 ,_, as_II21 for_II22 Bergson_NP1 ,_, a_AT1 person_NN1 's_GE development_NN1 depends_VVZ on_II childhood_NN1 memory_NN1 ._. 
Alexandra_NP1 Bergson_NP1 ,_, Thea_NP1 Kronberg_NP1 ,_, and_CC Jim_NP1 Burden_NN1 illustrate_VV0 this_DD1 fundamental_JJ principle_NN1 of_IO the_AT genre_NN1 ._. 
It_PPH1 may_VM be_VBI no_AT coincidence_NN1 that_CST two_MC of_IO the_AT three_MC characters_NN2 '_GE names_NN2 echo_VV0 Bergson_NP1 ,_, for_IF his_APPGE account_NN1 of_IO intuition_NN1 arising_VVG out_II21 of_II22 memory_NN1 predicts_VVZ the_AT positive_JJ trajectory_NN1 of_IO their_APPGE lives_NN2 ._. 
Memory_NN1 certainly_RR matters_VVZ in_II this_DD1 way_NN1 for_IF the_AT narrator_NN1 of_IO One_MC1 of_IO Ours_PPGE ._. 
A_AT1 case_NN1 in_II point_NN1 is_VBZ the_AT little_JJ story_NN1 of_IO Mr._NNB Wheeler_NP1 chopping_VVG down_RP the_AT cherry_NN1 tree_NN1 ._. 
Taking_VVG us_PPIO2 back_RP to_II this_DD1 vivid_JJ scene_NN1 of_IO the_AT "_" bleeding_JJ stump_NN1 ,_, "_" the_AT narrator_NN1 tells_VVZ how_RRQ "_" Claude_NP1 became_VVD a_AT1 little_JJ demon_NN1 ._. "_" 
This_DD1 particular_JJ memory_NN1 stands_VVZ as_CSA prologue_NN1 to_II the_AT narrator_NN1 's_GE premise_NN1 :_: "_" A_ZZ1 violent_JJ temper_NN1 and_CC physical_JJ restlessness_NN1 were_VBDR the_AT most_RGT conspicuous_JJ things_NN2 about_II Claude_NP1 when_RRQ he_PPHS1 was_VBDZ a_AT1 little_JJ boy_NN1 "_" ._. 
Thanks_II21 to_II22 the_AT narrator_NN1 ,_, the_AT reader_NN1 gains_VVZ real_JJ insight_NN1 into_II the_AT character_NN1 's_GE development_NN1 ._. 
But_CCB against_II the_AT backdrop_NN1 of_IO this_DD1 familiar_JJ compositional_JJ strategy_NN1 ,_, Cather_NP1 manages_VVZ Claude_NP1 differently_RR ._. 
With_IW Alexandra_NP1 ,_, Thea_NP1 ,_, and_CC Jim_NP1 ,_, she_PPHS1 follows_VVZ Bergson_NP1 ,_, who_PNQS puts_VVZ it_PPH1 well_RR in_II Creative_JJ Evolution_NN1 when_CS he_PPHS1 describes_VVZ involuntary_JJ memory_NN1 as_II "_" all_DB that_CST we_PPIS2 have_VH0 felt_VVN ,_, thought_NN1 and_CC willed_VVN from_II our_APPGE earliest_JJT infancy_NN1 ..._... leaning_VVG over_II the_AT present_NN1 which_DDQ is_VBZ about_RPK to_TO join_VVI it_PPH1 "_" ._. 
As_CSA she_PPHS1 creates_VVZ her_APPGE other_JJ evolving_JJ protagonists_NN2 ,_, Cather_NP1 allows_VVZ memory_NN1 to_TO lean_VVI over_RP and_CC press_VVI upon_II the_AT present_NN1 from_II childhood_NN1 to_II maturity_NN1 ._. 
Quite_RG unlike_JJ Alexandra_NP1 ,_, Thea_NP1 ,_, and_CC Jim_NP1 ,_, Claude_NP1 appears_VVZ to_II the_AT reader_NN1 for_IF the_AT first_MD time_NNT1 as_II a_AT1 college_NN1 student_NN1 ._. 
He_PPHS1 returns_VVZ only_RR intermittently_RR to_II days_NNT2 gone_VVN by_II ,_, and_CC his_APPGE consciousness_NN1 is_VBZ too_RG restless_JJ to_TO engage_VVI in_II the_AT labor_NN1 of_IO "_" resolving_VVG ._. "_" 
At_RR21 best_RR22 ,_, Claude_NP1 seems_VVZ to_TO register_VVI utterly_RR truncated_JJ scraps_NN2 of_IO memory_NN1 that_CST make_VV0 little_JJ difference_NN1 to_II his_APPGE present_JJ situation_NN1 ._. 
Cather_NP1 explained_VVD that_CST she_PPHS1 purposely_RR "_" cut_VVN out_RP all_DB picture_NN1 making_VVG because_CS that_DD1 boy_NN1 does_VDZ not_XX see_VVI pictures_NN2 ._. "_" 
Rosowski_NP1 adds_VVZ :_: "_" For_IF Cather_NP1 'picture_NN1 making'_NN1 involved_VVD an_AT1 imaginative_JJ movement_NN1 toward_II a_AT1 revelatory_JJ experience_NN1 ._. "_" 
Perhaps_RR because_CS memory_NN1 does_VDZ not_XX lean_VVI over_II Claude_NP1 's_GE consciousness_NN1 ,_, revelations_NN2 come_VV0 with_IW difficulty_NN1 ._. 
In_II fact_NN1 ,_, the_AT novel_NN1 opens_VVZ as_CSA Claude_NP1 rises_VVZ with_IW the_AT sun_NN1 ,_, as_CS21 though_CS22 he_PPHS1 inhabited_VVD an_AT1 everlasting_JJ present_NN1 ._. 
Cather_NP1 has_VHZ begun_VVN to_TO test_VVI an_AT1 anomaly_NN1 in_II Bergsonian_JJ evolution_NN1 ._. 
Lying_VVG in_II bed_NN1 after_II the_AT brief_JJ concert_NN1 ,_, Claude_NP1 explains_VVZ his_APPGE place_NN1 in_II the_AT war_NN1 to_II himself_PPX1 ._. 
The_AT argument_NN1 is_VBZ flawed_JJ in_II many_DA2 respects_NN2 ,_, but_CCB it_PPH1 is_VBZ less_RGR flawed_JJ than_CSN most_DAT contemporary_JJ readers_NN2 allow_VV0 ._. 
Claude_NP1 "_" knew_VVD the_AT future_NN1 of_IO the_AT world_NN1 was_VBDZ safe_JJ ;_; the_AT careful_JJ planners_NN2 would_VM never_RR be_VBI able_JK to_TO put_VVI it_PPH1 into_II a_AT1 strait-jacket_NN1 "_" ._. 
At_II his_APPGE moment_NN1 of_IO death_NN1 ,_, Claude_NP1 knows_VVZ ,_, "_" They_PPHS2 were_VBDR there_RL to_TO stay_VVI until_CS they_PPHS2 were_VBDR carried_VVN out_RP to_TO be_VBI buried_VVN ._. 
They_PPHS2 were_VBDR mortal_JJ ,_, but_CCB they_PPHS2 were_VBDR unconquerable_JJ "_" ._. 
Seen_VVN as_II a_AT1 jingoistic_JJ defense_NN1 of_IO violence_NN1 ,_, the_AT final_JJ intimation_NN1 is_VBZ lacking_VVG ._. 
Yet_RR key_JJ moments_NN2 in_II the_AT novel_NN1 have_VH0 been_VBN building_VVG toward_II a_AT1 notion_NN1 of_IO immortality_NN1 that_CST seems_VVZ utterly_RR laudable_JJ and_CC implicated_VVD in_II Claude_NP1 's_GE end_NN1 ._. 
Critics_NN2 make_VV0 much_DA1 of_IO Claude_NP1 's_GE affection_NN1 for_IF Joan_NP1 of_IO Arc_NP1 ,_, but_CCB they_PPHS2 tend_VV0 to_TO neglect_VVI his_APPGE wise_JJ estimation_NN1 of_IO her_APPGE real_JJ power_NN1 in_II the_AT world_NN1 :_: "_" It_PPH1 was_VBDZ a_AT1 curious_JJ thing_NN1 ,_, he_PPHS1 reflected_VVD ,_, that_CST a_AT1 character_NN1 could_VM perpetuate_VVI itself_PPX1 thus_RR ;_; by_II a_AT1 picture_NN1 ,_, a_AT1 word_NN1 ,_, a_AT1 phrase_NN1 ,_, it_PPH1 could_VM renew_VVI itself_PPX1 in_II every_AT1 generation_NN1 and_CC be_VBI born_VVN over_RP and_CC over_RP again_RT in_II the_AT minds_NN2 of_IO children_NN2 "_" ._. 
After_II hearing_VVG David_NP1 play_VVI ,_, Claude_NP1 reaches_VVZ a_AT1 similar_JJ conclusion_NN1 about_II noble_JJ thoughts_NN2 :_: "_" Ideals_NN2 were_VBDR not_XX archaic_JJ things_NN2 ,_, beautiful_JJ and_CC impotent_JJ ;_; they_PPHS2 were_VBDR the_AT real_JJ sources_NN2 of_IO power_NN1 among_II men_NN2 "_" ._. 
War_NN1 ,_, by_II contrast_NN1 ,_, seems_VVZ less_RGR powerful_JJ ._. 
It_PPH1 kills_VVZ ,_, but_CCB human_JJ beings_NN2 embody_VV0 ideals_NN2 that_CST can_VM not_XX be_VBI erased_VVN ._. 
There_EX is_VBZ nothing_PN1 very_RG original_JJ or_CC surprising_JJ in_II such_DA a_AT1 notion_NN1 ,_, and_CC the_AT fact_NN1 that_CST Cather_NP1 is_VBZ still_RR writing_VVG about_II Joan_NP1 of_IO Arc_NP1 in_II college_NN1 makes_VVZ the_AT point_NN1 ._. 
Indeed_RR ,_, the_AT fact_NN1 that_CST critics_NN2 go_VV0 on_RP writing_VVG about_II G._NP1 P._NP1 Cather_NP1 and_CC David_NP1 Hochstein_NP1 ought_VMK to_TO make_VVI such_DA notions_NN2 inevitable_JJ ._. 
In_II an_AT1 interview_NN1 published_VVN on_II Christmas_NNT1 Eve_NNT1 1922_MC ,_, Cather_NP1 made_VVD precisely_RR this_DD1 point_NN1 when_CS she_PPHS1 told_VVD how_RRQ soldiers_NN2 who_PNQS had_VHD served_VVN with_IW Hochstein_NP1 were_VBDR coming_VVG to_TO see_VVI her_PPHO1 ._. 
They_PPHS2 came_VVD "_" to_TO ask_VVI me_PPIO1 whether_CSW Hochstein_NP1 'amounted_VVD to_TO much'_VVI as_II a_AT1 violinist_NN1 ._. "_" 
They_PPHS2 knew_VVD nothing_PN1 of_IO music_NN1 :_: "_" But_CCB they_PPHS2 seemed_VVD to_TO need_VVI this_DD1 fact_NN1 to_TO complete_VVI their_APPGE memory_NN1 of_IO him_PPHO1 ,_, to_TO pull_VVI their_APPGE mental_JJ picture_NN1 of_IO him_PPHO1 together_RL ,_, though_CS it_PPH1 was_VBDZ merely_RR as_II a_AT1 soldier_NN1 that_CST they_PPHS2 had_VHD admired_VVN him_PPHO1 ._. "_" 
More_DAR than_CSN anything_PN1 else_RR ,_, One_MC1 of_IO Ours_PPGE is_VBZ a_AT1 novel_NN1 about_II how_RRQ character_NN1 endures_VVZ ._. 
Of_RR21 course_RR22 ,_, how_RRQ we_PPIS2 understand_VV0 the_AT novel_NN1 's_GE conclusion_NN1 depends_VVZ on_II what_DDQ we_PPIS2 make_VV0 of_IO the_AT final_JJ chapter_NN1 that_CST returns_VVZ to_II Nebraska_NP1 ._. 
Much_RR has_VHZ been_VBN made_VVN of_IO the_AT despair_NN1 and_CC skepticism_NN1 found_VVN in_II Hicks_NP1 ,_, Fuller_NP1 ,_, and_CC Mrs._NNB Wheeler_NP1 ._. 
In_II so_RR doing_VDG ,_, critics_NN2 often_RR base_VV0 their_APPGE interpretation_NN1 on_II the_AT (_( previously_RR discussed_VVN )_) notion_NN1 that_CST the_AT soldiers_NN2 '_GE sacrifice_NN1 could_VM only_RR have_VHI meaning_NN1 if_CS it_PPH1 had_VHD somehow_RR perfected_VVN the_AT world_NN1 ._. 
These_DD2 interpreters_NN2 dwell_VV0 on_II Mrs._NNB Wheeler_NP1 's_GE understanding_NN1 in_BCL21 order_BCL22 to_TO find_VVI Cather_NP1 's_GE "_" last_MD word_NN1 ._. "_" 
They_PPHS2 tend_VV0 not_XX to_TO ask_VVI the_AT more_RGR challenging_JJ question_NN1 :_: to_II what_DDQ extent_NN1 can_VM she_PPHS1 be_VBI counted_VVN on_II21 to_II22 provide_VV0 a_AT1 final_JJ verdict_NN1 that_CST accurately_RR measures_VVZ Claude_NP1 's_GE sense_NN1 of_IO himself_PPX1 or_CC the_AT value_NN1 of_IO the_AT war_NN1 or_CC Cather_NP1 's_GE intuition_NN1 ?_? 
If_CS we_PPIS2 credit_VV0 her_APPGE estimation_NN1 ,_, then_RT we_PPIS2 must_VM reconcile_VVI it_PPH1 with_IW the_AT woman_NN1 who_PNQS feared_VVD new_JJ things_NN2 ._. 
Claude_NP1 comes_VVZ home_RL from_II college_NN1 ,_, but_CCB talking_VVG to_II his_APPGE mother_NN1 is_VBZ not_XX easy_JJ :_: "_" That_DD1 was_VBDZ one_MC1 of_IO the_AT disappointing_JJ things_NN2 about_II coming_VVG home_RL ;_; he_PPHS1 could_VM never_RR interest_VVI his_APPGE mother_NN1 in_II new_JJ things_NN2 or_CC people_NN unless_CS they_PPHS2 in_II some_DD way_NN1 had_VHD to_TO do_VDI with_IW the_AT church_NN1 "_" ._. 
This_DD1 is_VBZ the_AT woman_NN1 who_PNQS highly_RR values_VVZ the_AT teaching_NN1 at_II the_AT little_JJ college_NN1 ._. 
This_DD1 is_VBZ the_AT woman_NN1 who_PNQS declares_VVZ ,_, "_" We_PPIS2 know_VV0 Paris_NP1 is_VBZ a_AT1 wicked_JJ city_NN1 ,_, but_CCB there_EX must_VM be_VBI many_DA2 God-fearing_JJ people_NN there_RL ,_, and_CC God_NP1 has_VHZ preserved_VVN it_PPH1 all_DB these_DD2 years_NNT2 "_" ._. 
So_RR when_CS Mrs._NNB Wheeler_NP1 says_VVZ that_CST "_" nothing_PN1 has_VHZ come_VVN of_IO it_PPH1 all_RR21 but_RR22 evil_JJ ,_, "_" her_APPGE appraisal_NN1 must_VM be_VBI valued_VVN in_II this_DD1 provincial_JJ context_NN1 ._. 
