Faulkner's and Porter's Female Characters

Paper Summary:

This paper compares the characters and lives of Emily Grierson, from William Faulkner's novel "A Rose for Emily", and Granny Weatherall ,from Katherine Anne Porter's novel "The Jilting of Granny Weatherall". The paper discusses the similar character traits the characters share and explains how both were affected by a similar, life-changing event in their youths that became the tragedy of their lives . The paper also contrasts how each character chose to deal with that tragedy, pointing out that Emily allowed her past to turn her into a depraved and perverse character, while Granny chose not to let her past dictate her life and instead built a life of warmth, dignity and compassion and understood that life was what you made of it, for better or for worse.

From the Paper:

"The two characters presented for comparison bare likeness to each other in several respects. Each are presented as strong-willed and defiant. They both were raised during an era where existed a strict southern code of manners and appearance. Unfortunately, this code is based on appearance rather than truth. Southern society placed great emphasis on a woman's conduct and each of the women acted according to this unwritten code. The secrets that they concealed and the demeanors they chose to display to society differ from reality. Emily Grierson's fa?ade of gentleness conceals her iron-willed strength capable of even murderous acts. Granny Weatherall is perceived as an ailing lady of forgotten memory and time. Both ladies were significantly affected by events in youth that became the tragedy of their lives. They were both jilted by their young loves. The difference between Emily and Granny lies in the effect this betrayal had upon the remainder of their existence."

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