The Sculptor’s Funeral

by

Willa Cather

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Palm Leaf Symbol Icon

The palm leaf that adorns Harvey Merrick’s casket when his body arrives back in his hometown of Sand City, Kansas symbolize his extraordinary achievement as an artist in spite of the judgmental detraction he faces from the townspeople. This symbol has its roots in the ancient Near East and Mediterranean, representing victory, triumph, peace and eternal life. The palm leaf or branch also has rich significance in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Early Christians adopted the palm leaf as a symbol of victory over their spiritual enemies. The palm leaf would become an important part of Christian iconography as a symbol for martyrdom; its placement on a tomb indicating a martyr was interred there. By decorating Harvey’s coffin with this symbol, Cather is placing him in the same category as a martyr—someone who suffers religious persecution and death because of they are unwilling to give up their beliefs. Although the status of martyr is typically reserved for those who have died upholding their religious faith, the term is applicable to someone who refuses to abandon their principles due to outside influence. The palm leaf on Harvey’s casket thus represents and commemorates the fact that he lived his life committed to his artistic passion despite other’s negative opinions of him. Ignorant of the significance of both Harvey’s achievement and the palm leaf’s meaning, the townspeople of Sand City who stand over his casket illustrate the strained relationship between the figure of the artist and society.

Palm Leaf Quotes in The Sculptor’s Funeral

The The Sculptor’s Funeral quotes below all refer to the symbol of Palm Leaf. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Artist vs. Society Theme Icon
).
The Sculptor’s Funeral Quotes

Was it possible that these men did not understand, that the palm leaf on the coffin meant nothing to them? The very name of their town would have remained for ever buried in the postal guide had it not been now and again, mentioned in the world in connection with Harvey Merrick’s.

Related Characters: Harvey Merrick, Henry Steavens
Related Symbols: Palm Leaf
Page Number: 204
Explanation and Analysis:
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Palm Leaf Symbol Timeline in The Sculptor’s Funeral

The timeline below shows where the symbol Palm Leaf appears in The Sculptor’s Funeral. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
The Sculptor’s Funeral
Artist vs. Society Theme Icon
Success, Money, and Materialism Theme Icon
...the coffin is removed from the train, the townspeople circle around it, silently inspecting the palm leaf that adorns its black cover. Looking for someone in the group who seems like... (full context)
Artist vs. Society Theme Icon
Judgment Theme Icon
Success, Money, and Materialism Theme Icon
Homecoming Theme Icon
Appalled by the stories he’s hearing, Steavens can’t believe that “the palm on the coffin meant nothing” to the townspeople. He wants to remind them that Sand... (full context)