Kate Chopin’s “Story of an Hour” and William Faulkner’s “A Rose for Emily” share many similarities but also differ immensely. Faulkner’s literary work of fiction is Southern Gothic, while Chopin’s work is a short story family drama. Here we can see one comparison between both works; they are both family dramas. Published in different centuries, the time period plays a massive role in the difference between both of these renowned works of literature. Some of these clear changes are the post-Civil War effects in Faulkner’s “A Rose for Emily”. Chopin’s “Story of an Hour”, shows how a woman in the 19th century was nothing without her husband and became free when he “died”. Faulkner’s story shows Emily desperately looking for a partner, leading to her demise at the end dying from old age. A large similarity between both works is how both women were controlled by men, and death was their true form of freedom.
Faulkner's work differs quite massively from Chopin’s short story because of its genre. Southern gothic pieces of literature typically consist of irrational thoughts from characters, with deep-rooted problems, and a large amount of dark humor. This is portrayed in the story when proclaimed, “Homer himself had remarked--he liked men, and it was known that he drank with the younger men in the Elks' Club--that he was not a marrying man.”
This illustrates the sense of humor as it develops the big figure of a Homosexual fellow, to make fun of his big personality of a man that would not marry. However, Chopin’s family drama typically consists of conflicts between family members and the family’s relationships. This can be seen in Chopin’s story when it claims, “and she was striving to beat it back with her will—as powerless as her two white slender hands would have been.” This showcases how she felt powerless when her husband was around, this demonstrates the fact that he is a family drama-driven author. Yet, in retrospect, both works have a bit of family drama within their pages. Taking into account that Emily’s suffering from their fair share of family issues and controversy between a past family contract and politicians with awaiting tax payments. Similarly, Chopin’s short story illustrates a wife going through the stages of grief after her discovery of her husband's death via her sister. In this case, Mallard dies of a stroke. Seeing her husband and knowing her freedom had ceased to the oppression of a man once again, indicating some sort of relief within Mallard as if she has been freed. This demonstrates the issues that could have been present within the wife and husbands’ relationship.
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Furthermore, The difference in centuries and years has paved the way literature was written. This can be shown in Chopin’s story when Mrs. Mallard exclaims, “Free, free, free!' The vacant stare and the look of terror that had followed it went from her eyes.” This illustrates how she feels free at the release of the slavery society places on women from the start to be attentive to their husbands. On the contrary, Faulkner states, “When Miss Emily Grierson died, our whole town went to her funeral: the men through a sort of respectful affection for a fallen monument.” This depicts the impact she had even after the death of her father it didn’t matter, she had a reputation of her own.
Moreover, differences are expected as no story is the same. Yet! These similarities show the individualism of each story such as how death was their escape. This can be shown when in “A Rose for Emily” Faulkner proclaims, “Thus she passed from generation to generation--dear, inescapable, impervious, tranquil, and perverse.” This establishes how she kept growing older and depressed, stuck on the same routine and time. In which death ends up freeing her from her sad and lonely life. Nonetheless, in “Story of an Hour” Chopin writes “When the doctors came, they said she had died of heart disease—of joy that kills.” This exemplifies how the joy she had due to her husband's death due to her new-founded free will, was immediately killed by Mr. Mallard’s reappearance to the storyline. Moreover, is shown Jay Gilbert Ph.D., states “…but in both cases, there is certainly symbolism tied into buildings and the… women to these buildings” This demonstrates another similarity when it comes to symbolism. It is shown throughout the story yet it is connected to the persona of said character.
In short, Kate Chopin’s “Story of an Hour” and William Faulkner’s “A Rose for Emily” share many similarities but also differ immensely. Each is very impactful in its own way. Their similarities in control by a man cause the reasoning behind their occurrences. To demonstrate two amazing styles of writing, and a history lesson all in one. This is the reason why these pieces are timeless.
Works Cited
- 'A Rose for Emily by William Faulkner I WHEN MISS Emily Grierson died, our whole town went to her funeral: the men through a sort of respectful affection for a fallen monument, the women mostly out of curiosity to see the.' A Rose for Emily - cje.ids.czest.pl. cje.ids.czest.pl/biblioteka/7117936-A-Rose-for-Emily.pdf.
- 'Get an answer for 'Compare the symbolism in.' Compare the symbolism in. s://enotes.com/homework-help/compare-the-symbolism-in-the-story-of-an-hour-and....
- 'Kate Chopin’s “The Story of an Hour” was originally published in 1894. There was something coming to her and she was waiting for it, fearfully. What was it? She did not know; it was too subtle and elusive to name. But she felt it, creeping out of the sky, reaching toward her through the sounds, the scents, the color that filled the air.' The Story of an Hour Kate Chopin - Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. s://my.hrw.com/support/hos/hostpdf/host_text_219.pdf.
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