Neighbour Rosicky Themes

“Neighbour Rosicky” is about the quest for a good life. Various characters in the story live with different value systems and in different circumstances—in cities or in the country, with or without money, with or without families—but the story portrays Anton Rosicky as the happiest character of all. Rosicky searches for the good life on two different continents and in several different cities, eventually settling in rural Nebraska and becoming a farmer. Here, he comes…

“Neighbour Rosicky” narrates Anton Rosicky’s journey from living a difficult life in various cities to finding beauty and fulfillment as a farmer in rural Nebraska. Overall, the story depicts urban life—particularly for poor and working-class people—as unforgiving. City dwellers are mostly cruel and crooked, the work is hard, the environment is alienating, and there are few opportunities for freedom or joy. By contrast, the story depicts rural life as full of beauty, self-reliance, kindness…

Financial instability affects everyone in “Neighbour Rosicky,” and while Rosicky himself is not wealthy, he seems to be the happiest character in the story. Notably, Rosicky chooses to spend his money as he pleases and as he feels best serves his family, instead of saving it or trying to push himself to advance economically. While his health suffers from the physical labor of his work as a farmer, he still remains grateful and prefers to…