Jim Burden is the main character in the novel My Ántonia by Willa Cather. He is a young boy who moves to Nebraska in the late 19th century and grows up on the Great Plains. Jim is known for his intelligence and curiosity, which shape his experiences and relationships throughout the story. As he navigates life in a rural community, Jim forms a close bond with Ántonia Shimerda, a Bohemian immigrant girl. Their friendship highlights themes of nostalgia, the immigrant experience, and the connection to the land, making Jim a central figure in exploring these important ideas in the novel.