Mr. Shimerda’s death is the first major turning point in the novel. Ántonia has lost the one person who supported her most; her father was her role model, the family member to whom she was closest. Now she is in danger of coming under the influence of her mother and Ambrosch. In retrospect, we can see Cather is implying that Mr. Shimerda’s sadness was caused as much by his feeling of isolation from his family—particularly from his wife—as it was from homesickness. Mrs. Shimerda didn’t care about her husband’s wants and needs when she decided to come to America; her thoughts were focused solely on Ambrosch. Ántonia was the only family member to acknowledge Mr. Shimerda’s sadness; she mentioned it to the Burdens many times.
Cather demonstrates how death has a way of pulling people together: Jim is surprised to see Ambrosch, whom he thought had no feelings for his father, feverishly saying his rosary and praying; neighbors come to visit and offer their support, even though most of these neighbors probably did not make regular visits while Mr. Shimerda was alive. Yet death pushes people apart when the Catholics and Norwegians refuse to allow Mr. Shimerda to be buried in their cemeteries, and these decisions anger even Grandmother Burden, who is able to get along with almost everyone. She exclaims that “if these foreigners are so clannish,” she’ll get Grandfather to start an American graveyard that is more liberal-minded.
Mr. Shimerda’s death is a picture of striking contrasts. He dies in a violent way, but a sense of peace hovers over his grave and will continue to reappear at intervals throughout the novel as a source of strength to Ántonia and as a symbol of tranquility to Jim.
