what role does the land play in this story?

The vast Nebraskan landscape served as a place of discovery and mystery. The land is much like Jim's pre-addolecence growing up in Nebraska. It was not yet settled as immigrants, like the Shimerdas, came trickling in. The land and environment also affected each character in different ways. Mr. Shimerda, for example, killed himself after a rather harsh winter. Antonia later mused how the man who jumped into the threshing machine chose could kill himself when the weather was so nice.