As history continues to unfold, it is easy to forget the struggles women faced. In the early 1900s, a new generation of women began to flourish. Issues such as women's suffrage, women in the workforce, and the hope for equality began to rise and mingle in the air overpowered by men. Women began to explore their role in society as helpful contributors. They began to express their opinion and many found their voice in literature. Willa Cather was one of many burgeoning authors. Born in 1873, Cather grew up just in time to immerse her soul in writing. His writing eloquently captivated the changing society in which he lived. Cather continued to write several novels and in 1923 wrote A Lost Lady, starring an idolized woman as the main character, Marina Forrester. The relationships between Marian Forrester and the dominant male characters in Willa Cather's novel, A Lost Lady, demonstrate the strong influential hold that men had on women in the early 1900s. First of all, the relationship between Marian Forrester and the dominant male characters demonstrates how men influenced the image of women. during the early 1900s. The Women's International Center presents “Women's History in America,” an article that describes how men viewed women in the early 1900s and explains that “before having children, a woman's role was to to become a 'good wife. a potential bride. In Cather's novel, Mrs. Forrester's relationship with Mr. Forrester describes her as the model wife. Cather writes that men "...could not imagine [Mrs. Forrester] in any dress or situation in which... middle of paper... she strives to be the ideal wife she is expected to be. Men in the early 1900s also influenced a woman's financial situation women in the early 1900s did not have their own financial independence. Mrs. Forrester is seen displaying luxurious jewelry all from her husband, but once he dies her financial situation plummets, further highlighting the negative effects that the loss of a male figure has on a woman's financial situation. Overall, the male relationships that Mrs. Forrester has in A Lost Lady, portray the strong influence that men had on women in the early 1900s. Work Cited Gerber, Philip L. Willa Cather. Boston, MA: Twayne, 1975. Print.Murphy, John J. Critical Essays on Willa Cather. Boston, MA: GK Hall, 1984. Print."WIC - Women's History in America." WIC - History of Women in America. International Women's Center, 1995. Web. 25 February. 2014.