Comparative Analysis of "Barn Burning" and "A Rose for Emily" by William Faulkner

Introduction

William Faulkner stands out as one of the remarkable authors in contemporary society, with a focus on short stories as well as novels. Some of his pieces that almost every English student appreciates are “A Rose for Emily” as well as “Barn Burning.” The thematic aspect of these stories centers on the social life depicted by the Southern people, as well as the struggles they undergo in different instances. The use of dramatic context in the stories is vital in fostering empathy. This ability to evoke emotions makes it possible for the audience to place themselves in the shoes of the Southern town's inhabitants. The ability to develop a sense of sympathy in both stories brings a greater understanding of correlation. Moreover, there exist similarities and differences in the stories regarding their contexts. Ideally, these aspects make them unique as well as entertaining.

Comparative Analysis of "Barn Burning" and "A Rose for Emily"

The first thing under consideration is the social life of those in the Southern regions, inclusive of the struggles depicted in the two pieces. In “Barn Burning,” the use of the fictional town Yaknapatawpha, located in Mississippi, illustrates major concepts relating to struggle. On the other hand, Jefferson township is the center of focus in “A Rose for Emily.” In “Barn Burning,” a small boy finds himself in a dilemma, striving to express loyalty to both the community and his family. Conversely, in “A Rose for Emily,” there is a feeling of unpleasantness, sympathy, and awkwardness during the discovery of a longtime residence in Jefferson town. The fact that Emily kept sleeping with dead bodies is threatening and represents an aspect of a cult.

The stories present a significant aspect where people with different lives can work together to solve problems. There exists a sort of algorithm in sorting these issues, leading to the element of communism. At one instance, people strive to create their world to solve some challenges. This process is never appealing and might make individuals lose societal ties. The old and new industrial periods experienced a wide range of transformations, and the two stories act as accurate representations. Abner and Emily’s father can undoubtedly attest to the challenges in society, and they had to use all possible means to adapt and survive in such environments. In the two stories, the protagonists strive to resist change, and the end is often murder or the destruction of property. Even though the plot might be similar in specific ways, there is also a lot of dissimilarity in the aspect that Abner was from a humble background, while Emily was from a different side of the financial spectrum. Despite these characters' divergence on the element of social class, they still faced the same problems, and their ways of solving such issues also remained the same to some extent. Symbolism is an aspect that dominates “A Rose for Emily.” The use of the Grierson family name depicts the old views dominating the story. It is evident that Emily constantly disagrees with the old age of life as well as the restrictions that result from old traditions. The elements of the old South continue to drag civilization, limiting success in some ways.

The North presented a commendable pace, and the use of “A Rose for Emily” denotes all the struggles that people from the South experience while trying to cope with and implement modernization. Society dictates certain norms, and the two stories outline the influence of the father. Emily could not date, which resulted in her thirst for love and security. The death of Emily’s father signified freedom. Meeting Homer Barron seemed to represent the end of life for her. On the contrary, there was Sarty's father, who continually burned down other people's properties, proving a lack of loyalty. However, the son later embraces the community and was willing to use all available resources to give back to society. From the analogy, it is evident that Barron symbolized the new generation. The inability to remain adaptable is the reason for his death. Men were expected to marry at a particular time, a fact that Homer failed to embrace, leading to his untimely demise.

Conclusion

In conclusion, William Faulkner managed to provide a systematic plot for the two stories. Still, there is symbolic significance regarding people’s thoughts in times of danger and other natural calamities. The use of Abner and Emily presents a clear analogy of the two paradigms of life. Emily was from a wealthy family and managed to share problems with a person from a humble background. Even though the issues had a different scope, they led to similar ways of solving their problems. The only daunting aspect is the problem-solving techniques that proved ineffective. Any problem-solving technique should offer a better solution. To the contrary, the methods depicted by Abner and Emily add more misery. This is not how problem-solving should emerge. Still, society should be dynamic and embrace change for the sake of future generations.

References

1. Faulkner, W. (1930). A Rose for Emily. The Forum.

2. Faulkner, W. (1939). Barn Burning. Harper’s Magazine.