Compare And Contrast Essay

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Compare and Contrast

Introduction

William Faulkner is a famous American writer who is known for his extraordinary works in the literature. He wrote many classic novels and short stories with a writing style diverse than his contemporaries (Skei, Hans and William, 1999). This essay is the comparison and contrast of Faulkner's two famous short stories, i.e. “A rose for Emily” and “Barn Burning." Written in 1930, “A Rose for Emily” is a fictional short story revolves around an old unmarried woman named Emily who has isolated herself from the town and eventually dies after living quite a complicated life (Faulkner and Noel, 2000). On the other hand, Barn burning was written in 1939 by Faulkner who is narrated by a ten-year-old child named Sartoris who is trapped in a conflicted situation with his family and the law (Faulkner, 1977). Although both the stories are very difficult to understand as far as their climax is concerned, there are many elements in both the literary works that make a strong connection in the themes. The main idea of both the stories focuses on the conflicts a person often has with the society and the drive for vengeance. This essay will highlight the similarities, and the contrast both the stories have with the protagonists and their actions which eventually decides their fate in the stories.

Discussion

In "A Rose for Emily," the story starts with a sympathetic view delivered to the readers by addressing the death of Emily's father and how she was devastated after his departure. But as the story slowly moves back in time, many of the matters are disclosed, and the intensity of sympathy which the reader had with Emily’s character soon turns into disgust. Faulkner portrayed Emily's character in a way that asked for empathy from the reader’s side (Peter, 1979).

Emily belonged to a ruling class family and wanted to live her life according to her wishes, but her controlling father killed all of her hopes by interfering in her life. His interference left a significant impact on the rest of her life as he left her with no money and moral support in the form of a husband. Like in one time on her funeral, the people share their thoughts like this:

“We did not say she was crazy then. We believed she had to do that. We remembered all the young men her father had driven away, and we knew that with nothing left, she would have to cling to that which had robbed her, as people will.” This is why she was not wrong in her perspective of killing Homer because when she chose her to be his husband and went against the society; he indirectly rejected her by showing interest in men’s company.

On the contrary, in the Barn Burning story, the story starts with an opposite scenario by showing the presence of guilty charged Abner Snopes in the court. As the story moves forward, it is made clear that Snopes is in the habit of burning the Barns of the people he considers as a threat to his integrity and ego. Although his ten-year-old son Sartoris is exhausted from bearing the consequences of his father’s actions, he cannot do anything as his father keeps loyalty to family above all the matters.

Sartoris became tired of changing homes and now wants to live in this newly found home much longer. He shares his thoughts about his father on an occasion when they are both going to Major de Spain house that: “Maybe he will feel it too. Maybe it will even change him now from what maybe he couldn't help but be." He pinpoints his father's envy, jealousy, and rage which troubles him the most.

Snopes keeps feeding his ego and dignity by harming others and feeling no remorse on the actions he took. The cycle keeps on continuing until one-day Major de Spain ends the matter by taking the life of Abey Snopes due to ego conflict and vengeance. Sartoris is left in utter shock on what to believe for the coming years of his life, but he gathers strength and prepares to face the truth(Zender,1989). The issue of class difference became the reason due to which Snopes was unable to control himself from punishing others and ultimately got killed.

Conclusion

In both the stories, one element is very dominant which changes the perception of the reader and that is vengeance. Emily and Snopes both were equally guilty of their crimes, and they both resisted the changes society bought with time. This is why it will not be wrong to say that both leading characters conflicted with society. However, Emil was more sympathetic than Snopes in a way that she didn't give any harm to people other than Homer. In Snopes, he was emotionless with his family too and took vengeance from everyone who was higher in class.

Works Cited

Faulkner, William, and Noel Polk. A rose for Emily. Harcourt College Publishers, 2000.

Faulkner, William. Barn Burning. United States Information Agency, Television and Film Service, 1977.

Perry, Menakhem. "Literary dynamics: how the order of a text creates its meanings [with an analysis of Faulkner's" A Rose for Emily"]." Poetics today 1.1/2 (1979): 35-361.

Skei, Hans H., and William Faulkner. Reading Faulkner's best short stories. Univ of South Carolina Press, 1999.

Zender, Karl F. "Character and Symbol in" Barn Burning"." College literature 16.1 (1989): 48-59.