Mr. Shimerda from My Antonia Most people find it difficult to put down roots in their native country and settle down in a foreign country. Throughout history, millions of people have done this. People abandon their homeland and move to another country for various reasons. Some emigrate to avoid famine. Some people seek adventure. Others want to escape unbearable family situations. Still others want to reunite with their loved ones. However, the primary reason for immigration has long been economic opportunity: the lure of better land or better jobs. Yet some people fail to conform to the American way of life. Much like replanting the roots of a flower, completely moving a person so attached to their homeland and customs can prove fatal. In the book “My Antonia”, the Shimerdas seemed very religious. For example, on Christmas Eve, “When the candle went out, its yellow conical flames rose, all the colorful figures of Austria stood out clearly and meaningfully against the green branches. Mr. Shimerda stood up, crossed himself and knelt quietly in front of the tree……" History shows that the Bohemian people were constantly revolting for their freedom. This is probably one of the reasons why the religious Shimerdas moved to America, to escape these many "hard times." All the time, she says: 'America is a great country; a lot of money, a lot of land for my boys, a lot of husband for my daughters... my mom, she wants Ambrosch to be rich, with a lot of cattle." That must have been the main factor that motivated them to leave of their “kawn tree”. Unfortunately, not all Shimerda were enthusiastic about this decision “My dad is sad for the old country. He doesn't look good. He doesn't make music anymore... He doesn't like this kawn-tree... My dad, he's crying to leave his old friends who make music with him." These quotes were the harbingers of what was to come. "Well, Mom, it was pretty simple: he pulled the trigger with his big toe. He lay on his side and put the end of the barrel in his mouth, then raised one foot and felt for the trigger. He found everything all right!" Mr. Shimerda was so depressed at having lost everything familiar to him that he thought there was no point in living. Jim thought, "I knew it was homesickness that had killed Mr. Shimerda, and I wondered if his freed spirit might not eventually find its way back to its own country..