My Ántonia is a coming-of-age novel, known as a bildungsroman, that follows Jim Burden's journey from the age of ten. The narrative begins when he becomes an orphan and relocates to his grandparents' farm in Nebraska, where he initially feels invisible and insignificant. His first venture into romanticism is sparked by a young boy's fascination with outlaws like Jesse James and adventurers such as the Swiss Family Robinson. As a teenager, he remains detached yet conventional. Disenchanted by the monotony of his small pioneer town, he becomes intrigued by the allure of the hired girls—girls he knows he will never wed—while avoiding those considered suitable for him. In adulthood, he continues to live without a true sense of belonging. His marriage is without children; he and his wife lead nearly separate lives, with his occupied by journeys on the railway through the land he cherishes.