Critics believe the anecdotes Cather includes in the novel may have deeper meaning. Speculate on why she may have included the story about the tramp who kills himself in the thrasher.

In the story, the tramp doesn't kill himself during the winter when things are tough, and people are struggling to survive. Antonia is particularly disturbed by his death because he took his life during the summer when people are generally at their happiest. This is something that leads her to somewhat understand despair, as Jim's depressionand loneliness bring the story to mind.