I think Cather uses the “man” which Alexandra fantasizes about while she is at peaceful rest to represent the land, the Genius of the Divide. Alexandra had probably felt this deep down in her heart, since she had such a distinct and unique relationship with the land. Using the “strong being” as a representation of the land emphasizes the fact that the land is an important character in the novel and that Alexandra felt as …showed first 75 words of 917 total…

…showed last 75 words of 917 total…in the rustling corn, in the shining eyes of youth!"(part V,pp.199) is how the novel ends. Alexandra’s main victory and goal will be death, where her spirit can be where it has desired and yearned to be throughout the novel and where it truly belongs: within the heart of the Land, and someday that would no longer be just a fantasy of a strong being in her dreams, but an eternal reality.