Both Nadine Gordimer's "The Defeated" and Willa Cather's "Paul Case" are about characters who dread the life they see around them. Fearing this outcome, they strive desperately to put as much space as possible between their present circumstances and their future dreams. Miriam and Paul use similar defense mechanisms to deal with the realities in which they live. This mechanism is denial. On her birthday, instead of having a party in her lowly home, Miriam …showed first 75 words of 801 total…

…showed last 75 words of 801 total…fear is far worse than any guilt she feels at the betrayal of her parents. For Paul, there seems to be only one way out since he doesn't appear to be willing to work hard, rise slowly and eventually escape like Miriam. But even that escape into death cannot be called a success, as he does, after all, have just enough time for regrets before all fear and dread are smashed out of him completely.