Killings and a Rose for Emily

¶ … Tragedy is a main component of both short stories. The element of tragedy caused both main characters to react in differing ways. Both short stories involve death of a beloved family member, albeit, in differing manners. The coping mechanism used by the characters also differed. In "A Rose for Emily," Emily coped with the death of father by simply failing to acknowledge it ever happened. In "Killings," Matt Flower engages in murder to better cope with the death of his son (Morton. 2005).

Loneliness and isolation are two very common themes throughout the short stories. In regards to, "A Rose for Emily," the death of her father and subsequent husband caused her to be lonely. She reacted by isolating herself from the general public. She isolated herself even after numerous attempts from both her family and community to console her. This loneliness even caused her to lay with her dead boyfriend in bed, until her eventual death.

In "Killings" Matt Fowler was enraged by the fact his son was murdered, and the person who committed the crime still lives a normal life. Richard Strout, who commits a crime of passion by murdering the man his wife is having an affair with, seems to have no remorse for his act. Matt Fowler and his wife however, must now content with the loneliness of not having their son. In an emotional rage, Matt Fowler conspires to kill Richard Strout, which he is eventually successful at doing.

The loss of loved ones also caused both families to do conduct themselves in an irrational manner. In "A Rose for Emily," Emily was believed to be laying with the dead body of her husband near the conclusion of the story. Emily also went as far as outright denying the death of her father even after attending the burial service. The overall process of denial and isolation caused Emily to conduct herself in a manner that was uncharacteristic of her.

Emily's family was known to be very prestigious and proud of their heritage. Emily's father turned away many suitors for his daughters hand in marriage primarily due to this pride and perceived status. After her father's death, Emily meets and courts a man by the name of Homer who is well beneath her perceived status at the time. The relationship blossoms with both Emily and Homer believing that they will someday get married. However, Emily proceeds to purchase arsenic without providing a reason for doing so.

This arsenic is later used to kill her lover Homer. Acting uncharacteristically, Emily sleeps with the now dead Homer every night until her own death at 74. Another major similarity between the two short stories is resistance to change. In "A Rose for Emily," both Emily and her father failed to acknowledge that their status within the community was dwindling. Although they both were very wealthy, the family eventually arrived on hard financial times. Both parties failed to fully acknowledge that their socio-economic status within society had changed.

Emily's father refused to allow any man to marry Emily, even up to age 30. She perceived all suitors to be beneath her. Both members of the family refused to the change in their circumstances. Emily herself even.