Compare and Contrast “the Flowers” and “a Rose for Emily” Essay

The story “A Rose For Emily” by William Faulkner and the poem “Annabel Lee” By Edgar Allan Poe are famous pieces of literature that draw many similarities. “A Rose For Emily” is in the point of view of the townspeople after Miss Emily Grierson has died. Emily has always been a subject of gossip in the town and all her secrets are soon unfolded. The Narrator is the main character of “Annabel Lee” whose story begins as he tells a tale of his lover Annabel Lee’s death, which is said to be caused by the jealousy of angels. While these stories may seem very different, both pieces are forms of gothic literature, and share themes like Alienation and Loneliness after death.

As the literal meaning of the story, “The Flowers” is about the lynching of African Americans at that time. Even though this story is fiction, it definitely represents what could have happened in that day in age. It is historically accurate in that it very well could have happened and most probably did happen based on the time period it was written. The lynching of African Americans was a huge problem at that time in the south. Black men were being blamed for crimes they did not commit and were hanged for it without proof. Racism and segregation were ramped in the United States. Thus, inducing the civil rights movement that would fight for the end of segregation and racism. In the story itself, there were signs of how common it was for a black man to be lynched at the time. When Myop stumbles across the body of a recently lynched black man, she immediately realizes what had happened to him and does not really freak out. As expressed in the book, the moment she realized what she had stepped on she let out a little yelp of surprise but then took interest in her discovery. This reaction insinuates that it was almost normal to see such a thing. In the end, she laid down her flowers next to the man and continued on her way home. On the other hand, this story can be taken for more than its literal meaning.

"A Rose for Emily” written by William Faulkner is a short story that gives most people quite a shock when it comes to the ending. The story tells about how Miss Emily Grierson changes after her father dies. Miss Emily lives in a beautiful home with an African American servant named, Tobe. After Miss Emily’s father passed away she would never leave the house. Miss Emily was in denial about her father's death. For three days Emily would tell the townspeople that her father was not dead. The townspeople began to think Miss Emily was crazy because of her behavior, “Emily’s subsequent behavior clearly shows that the death of her father was a piece of reality disavowed by her ego” (Scherting). Including, Miss Emily wouldn't pay her taxes, the eerie smell around her house and the fact she killed her lover. Emily’s life, like her decaying house, starts to suffer from attention. What else could go wrong?

The short stories “A Rose for Emily” and “Hills Like White Elephants” are like two people suited for each other; puzzle pieces. I say this because they can be hooked together by their common similarities. The two short stories may be different in some aspects, but they are very similar to one another. These similarities being, the themes, symbolism found in each of the stories and the tragedies that occur.

The story “A Rose for Emily” was written by William Faulkner. The other story I am using to compare and contrast with is “Killings” written by Andre Dubus. These stories are similar in plot and theme. Both of these stories deal with murder, love and revenge. Though, love and murder are presented in different ways in the two stories. The main character in both these stories are of the opposite sex and they are both the protagonist. “A Rose for Emily” is about a women named Emily Grierson and her mysterious life as a southern belle. While “Killings” is based on a man named Matt Fowler who commits a bad crime.

Both the stories present major ideas through symbolism. Faulkner uses particular objects to link the tales with his metaphorical meaning. ¡§A Rose for Emily¡¨ does not explicitly involve a rose. Faulkner notes the rose only twice, in the title and the third paragraph from the last, ¡§¡Kthis room decked and furnished as for a bridal: upon the valance curtains of faded rose color, upon the rose-shaded lights¡K¡¨ (¡§A Rose for Emily, 129). But the significant symbolic meaning of the rose strongly affects the readers¡¦ perception of Miss Emily. It stirs the readers to sympathize with Miss Emily. Rose stands for true love, expectation and the most resplendent period of life. Miss Emily adorns her room as a bridal chamber in rose color, representing a woman who yearns for true love and dreams of a fairyland where she and her beloved can stay together forever. For years, Miss Emily¡¦s father drove away all the young men who want to date with her. Her father thwarted her to experiencing love. In her dreary existence, Homer Barron is the only bright spot, one ¡§rose¡¨. Like a wilted rose, she keeps his body, forever. It reminds her of the joy she once had in her otherwise empty

7) What is the significance of Miss Emily’s actions after the death of her father?

The author, William Faulkner, has a collection of books, short stories, and poems under his name. Through his vast collection of works, Faulkner attempts to discuss and bring awareness to numerous aspects of life. More often than not, his works were created to reflect aspects of life found within the south. Family dynamics, race, gender, social class, war, incest, racism, suicide, necrophilia, and mental illness are just some of the aspects that Faulkner explored. In “A Rose for Emily” the aspects of necrophilia and mental illness along with the societal biases that were observed in a small-town setting are seen to be a part of this captivating story. These aspects ultimately intertwine with the idea of insanity that characterizes “A Rose

William Faulkner’s “A Rose for Emily” is a very chilling story that opens with a brief first-person account of the funeral of Emily Grierson who is an old widow. Her father died when Emily was about thirty and she refused to accept that he was dead for three days. Mr. Grierson choked Emily’s social ability. After a life of having potential husbands rejected by her father, she spends time after his death with a newcomer, Homer Barron who is a northern laborer. Emily buys arsenic from a shop in town for no

In the short stories “A Rose For Emily,” by William Faulkner and “The Possibility of Evil,” by Shirley Jackson both authors create similar characters and settings that illustrate daring images of evil. Both Emily Grierson and Adela Strangeworth are women who share similar characteristics yet pose completely different motives. Their stories take place in close-knit towns, which play essential roles in their motives for evil. Emily Grierson and Adela Strangeworth demonstrate similarities and differences that develop their actions, revealing the possibility of evil within them.

Next, horror is developed in “A Rose for Emily” by the southern gothic elements. Emily’s psychological issues depict a twisted turn in the story. When Emily keeps her father’s body in her house for three days after he died, it sets up for a future turn of events. After she dies, the town women go to her house, but when they get to her house and go inside; they discover her lover petrified in the upstairs room. “The man himself lay in the bed. For a long while we just stood there, looking down at the profound and fleshless grin” (Para. 58). Homer, her lover and husband to be, was dead in the bed. Emily poisoned him because she did not want him to leave again, so she could keep him forever. She is

William Faulkner’s, “A Rose for Emily,” and Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s, “The Yellow Wallpaper,” are two short stories that incorporate multiple similarities and differences. Both stories main characters are females who are isolated from the world by male figures and are eventually driven to insanity. In “The Yellow Wallpaper,” the unidentified narrator moves to a secluded area with her husband and sister-in-law in hopes to overcome her illness. In “A Rose for Emily,” Emily’s father keeps Emily sheltered from the world and when he dies, she is left with nothing. Both stories have many similarities and differences pertaining to the setting, characterization, symbolism.

William Faulkner’s story entitled “A Rose for Emily” and Eudora Welty’s story entitled “A Worn Path” are representations of human psychological behavior and love. These two stories show both the woman’s struggles and the journey that they both had to overcome throughout their lives. The similarities in these two stories, the two characters in each story, Emily Grierson (in Faulkner's story) and Phoenix Jackson (in Welty's story) are both mentally crazy. They both also have an extraordinary strength of character. Although they both differentiate from each other, they prove themselves to be independent, determined and self-sacrificing women who will do anything to not lose their loved ones.

Emily is a character surrounded by mystery, leaving a mark on the influence of others, causing them to create their own scenarios about her life. It happened when she met Homer, when everyone hoped she will marry him, or when she bought poison and everyone thought she would poison herself. Her high wealthy status and respect were emphasized when she kicked out the people who

The unrealistic perception of love and what it means and how courtship should develop. Both stories started out differently than how they ended. In “A Rose for Emily”, it depicts a lonely, eccentric woman who experiences a first love later on in her life. She was a woman in need of control and the love she felt for Homer was so overpowering that she felt she needed to kill him in order for him not to leave her.