1. Deconstructing the Narrative and Challenging Authorial Authority:
* The critic would question the reliability of Jim Burden as the narrator, highlighting his subjective perspective and the inherent biases within his account.
* They would analyze how the novel's structure, particularly the fragmented nature of the narrative, challenges traditional notions of coherence and linearity, thus disrupting the idea of a singular, authoritative truth.
* The critic might explore the way the novel's language, imagery, and symbols contribute to the construction of meaning, emphasizing the multiplicity of interpretations rather than a definitive one.
2. Exploring the Role of Gender and Power:
* The critic would examine the portrayal of women in the novel, focusing on the power dynamics between men and women and how these dynamics are shaped by social and cultural norms.
* They might analyze how Antonia, a strong and independent woman, is ultimately subjected to societal pressures and expectations.
* The critic might delve into the themes of masculinity and femininity, exploring how the novel challenges and subverts traditional gender roles.
3. Analyzing the Construction of Identity:
* The critic would focus on how the novel explores the fluid and fragmented nature of identity.
* They would examine how characters like Antonia and Jim are shaped by their experiences, their environment, and their relationships with others.
* The critic might investigate how the novel challenges the notion of a fixed and stable self, highlighting the ways in which identity is constantly being constructed and reconstructed.
4. Examining the Role of Language and Representation:
* The critic would analyze how language functions in the novel, focusing on how it shapes our understanding of the characters, their experiences, and the historical context.
* They might explore how the novel utilizes language to create and perpetuate specific ideologies, including those related to gender, class, and race.
* The critic would also examine how the novel's use of language reflects the limitations and biases of representation.
5. Deconstructing the Notion of "America" and the American Dream:
* The critic would analyze how the novel portrays the American West and its relationship to the idea of the American Dream.
* They might explore how the novel critiques the romanticized view of the frontier and exposes the realities of hardship, exploitation, and social injustice.
* The critic might deconstruct the myth of the self-made man and the notion of individual achievement, highlighting the role of social and economic factors in shaping individual destinies.
Ultimately, a post-structuralist reading of "My Antonia" would be characterized by its focus on challenging traditional interpretations, highlighting the instability of meaning, and exploring the complexities of power, identity, and representation within the text.