Mrs. Shimerda’s visit to the Burdens contrasts sharply with Mr. Shimerda’s visit in the previous chapter. Mr. Shimerda was happy to be in the Burden home and was thankful for all they’d done for his family; Mrs. Shimerda, however, is jealous, complains that the Burdens haven’t done enough, and helps herself to one of Grandmother’s cooking pots. Ironically, just as Ántonia and her father are generous and appreciative, so are Ambrosch and his mother envious and grasping.
