Essay

ENC
Death Over Conformity
The short stories “A Rose For Emily” and “Paul’s Case” share many characteristics even though they are two completely different tales. They are both about characterswith tragic fates who felt alone in this world because their dreams and desires were not recognized by their loved ones. Both characters were oppressed by their fathers, but in very different ways. InEmily’s case, her father was a powerful but controlling man with such an influence on his daughter that she refused to believe that he had died and even after death she was not able to escape hisdesires for her life. With Paul, his father wanted a secure future for his son but Paul was stubborn and impulsive, eventually being able to escape his reality for a short period of time. Both storiesrevolve around characters that desire something so badly that it drives them insane and segregates them from their towns and families.
Emily’s story starts with her death and from the first lines thereader is already informed that she was a woman that kept to herself, with no friends or family or anyone allowed in her house. She was a mystery to her neighbors initially because her father brainwashed her into listening to what he had to say religiously and eventually she lost her sanity and locked herself indoors. Paul is a troubled kid with big desires and an even bigger attitude. Like Emily,no one liked him but not for keeping to himself, but because he treated everyone around him with disrespect and contempt. He had a very elegant taste finding pleasure in aesthetic beauty and his middleclass life was not suited for him and he found sanctuary in his job. Both characters are given the chance to escape their prisons and follow their desires. For Emily it was being with a man that sheloved and for Paul it was living the life of a rich man in a beautiful city. However, both meet tragic ends due to their dreams. Emily kills her love, becomes a recluse and sleeps next to his corpse...