A Rose For Emily And Barn Burning Essay Samples

Introduction

In his short stories “A rose for Emily” and “Barn Burning,” William Faulkner describes very interesting and bright characters. From the first sight, they do not look similar at all as the plot lines and the situations depicted are very different. But if tolook closer at the characters and to investigate their personalities and their behavior, we can find a lot in common between them. Mostly these are their life circumstances and social status that influence them so much and make them take actions which causeterrible things in their lives.
As a result of thorough research, the main characters of both short stories are interconnected between each other and share common features. First of all, Mr. Snopes and Mr. Grierson. The first one plays a significant role thorough out the story, the latter is only mentioned by narrators, but it was he who caused almost all that happened in Emily’s life. They both are tyrants. The biggest fault of Grierson is that he deprived his own daughter of love and happy life with a stable financial situation and left her to fend for herself. Snopes behaved horribly, but his greatest sin was that he chose the wrong way himself and made his family follow him and live in poverty and on the run. Both of them were strict, selfish, stubborn, cruel, very arrogant and disrespectful. They were bringing the lives of their families to ruin. Still, both of them justified themselves somehow and thought they were trying for the sake of their children. However, these men also have divergent features. Grierson is not characterized in detail, and due to the special kind of narration we simply deduce his role in the Emily’s life and just imagine his personal features. But Snopes is an active character, and he knows very well what he is doing. He is too stubborn and selfish to care about something. Grierson was supposedly strict, but at least in some way caring. He influenced her daughter a lot, but she still had her own rights and dreams and could change something if she wanted, especially after his death. It was her choice that she did not. With Snopes the situation is much worse as he simply uses his son who is at the age of 10 years to do some horrible things – to lie in front of a judge, to work extremely hard, to observe all his deeds full of arrogance and hate to the wealthy.
Another two main characters who, however, are very different, but share something common in both stories. They are Emily and little Sartoris. They are both subject to their tyrannic fathers. They obey and then suffer. They do that voluntarily, because they love their parents. But they are on very different levels of dependence as Emily is an adult and Sartoris is a little kid and has a stronger affection to his father. However, it is namely the little boy who is brave, pulls himself together and goes against his father, but loses him after revealing the truth. Emily chooses her way herself. Moreover, they act differently. Emilycommits a crime, while Sartoris prevents it and steps on the good side without fear.

Conclusion

Both stories show unique and very interesting characters who, despite poverty, fight and handle their destiny (Barn Burning) or simply accept it and give up (A Rose for Emily). They act differently, choose different ways and come to different ends.