Tom Outland

Tom Outland is a fictional character from Willa Cather's novel "The Professor's House," published in 1925. He is a young, adventurous archaeologist who discovers a unique Native American cliff dwelling during his travels. Outland's character symbolizes the conflict between artistic aspiration and material success, as his untimely death impacts the lives of those around him, particularly his mentor, Professor Godfrey St. Peter. Through Outland, Cather explores themes of loss, ambition, and the search for meaning, highlighting the tension between personal fulfillment and societal expectations in early 20th-century America.