The Character of Antonia Shimerda in My AntoniaAntonia Shimerda spends her whole life fighting, but she is not known for being belligerent. She is constantly beaten, but she still has no visible scars. Antonia is a girl who has suffered throughout her life and somehow manages to maintain an optimistic outlook. She is one of those rare people who gains character rather than resentment by enduring hardship. Throughout the book MY ANTONIA, this young girl's strength and perseverance definitely portrays her as "beaten but not diminished." A symbol of freedom, courage and misery, the country seems to invite everyone to come and settle, but not without struggle. . Antonia and her family are among the many people taking on this formidable task. A girl with a big heart, she arrives in Nebraska practically helpless. She arrives in an unfamiliar country with the knowledge to speak only a few words in the native language, and her family with no knowledge. Living in a small cabin made of dirt and wood, the Shimerda family is forced to make do with what they have; which is not much. This represents enormous pressure for them. In contrast to Antonia's remarkable perseverance, misery inevitably torments and takes hold of her father. He eventually gives in to his despair, leaving his family to fend for themselves. There is a great sense of unease and apprehension that accompanies suicide, which can be almost unbearable for a little girl. As with any child, the loss of a parent is probably the most important event in their life and just as difficult to overcome. Although Antonia never forgets her father, she uses his strength to move forward. No matter how hard she tries, Antonia cannot escape the prejudices that surround the town. Working as a domestic worker, a job that requires the skills of a housekeeper and nanny, Antonia becomes an outcast in the town. Therefore, she is forced to associate only with other working girls like her. However, it is not only his work that earns him these prejudices, it is also the color of his skin. While working in the country's fields, Antonia had acquired a remarkable tan. The latter, although accepted in the countryside, qualifies her as a peasant in the city. No refined woman would ever submit to the brutal country sun..