English language and literature studies

¶ … Rose for Emily chronicles the life of a woman named Emily Grierson as narrated by the people in her town. The short story by William Faulkner focuses on the character itself, and Faulkner used the townsfolk as his 'eye' in characterizing and describing Emily to the readers. The voice that narrates in the short story is but a representation of the people's collective sentiments for Miss Emily. In the story, Emily was characterized as a very private, stubborn woman, a woman who once belonged to a noble, rich family of the South, and who experienced her downfall after her father died, leaving her alone with her faithful Negro servant. Throughout the story, the narrator tells us the various issues that became the center of everybody's attention in Emily's small town. The gradual decrease of the flow of income in Emily's household, the deteriorating state of her house, and the deterioration of Emily herself were all discussed by the townspeople and are narrated to the readers.

Rose for Emily" focuses so much on the character, because Faulkner wants us to understand the enigma that is Emily Grierson. Since all throughout the story we never heard Emily voiced out her thoughts through Faulkner or in any other way (the readers are only given a small piece of conversational dialogue that perhaps will help us characterize Emily, and that is during the town officials' visit to her house, wanting to talk about the back taxes left unpaid by her family (and Emily herself) for many years. Thus, the narrator and the townsfolk leave the audience with an impression of Emily's character as described and implied.

The importance of the gray hair that was found in the pillow beside Homer's dead body symbolizes the murder that Emily committed, and act that was unknown to the townspeople because of her secretive nature. Homer's death (and thus, Emily's crime) was justified through the townspeople sympathy because of the hard life Emily had, since she was known to be controlled by her strict father (when he was alive) in every aspect of her life, including her personal acquaintances and relationships with men. Thus, the gray hair was Emily's final 'confession' of the crime she committed, the final evidence that brings to light the many years Emily concealed from her neighbors, and that is the murder and death of Homer Barron.

The killing of Matt Fowler's son, committed by Richard Strout, brought about a feeling of anger and injustice in the Fowler household, especially when Strout was bailed out of prison and was roaming around the streets of their neighborhood a free man. Matt's decision to avenge his son was justified by Strout's murderous act. In fact, "Killings" is an example of the "eye for an eye" revenge, one man (Fowler) seeking the death of another man (Strout) as a repayment for the killing he had committed. By attempting and planning the murder of Richard Strout, Matt Fowler inevitably 'fixes' himself in a situation wherein escape from the society's loathing and the stigma of being called a murderer, and the moral responsibility that comes with the act of killing becomes an impossibility. As a result of his planned murder of Strout, and the eventual occurrence of the said act, Fowler suffered the most, since the emotional burden that he carried after his son's death was compensated by the morals and significance of his act. In effect, the whole Fowler family suffered as well, but it can also be noticed that the story justifies Matt's act, so what happens is that Matt will actually suffer the consequences of his action as dictated by the law (imprisonment), but he will now be 'at peace' for avenging his son from his murderer. Like "A rose for Emily," the author justifies the main characters immoral and illegal action as acceptable because of the circumstances the character was put under in the story.

Better Be Ready 'Bout Half past Eight" by Alison Baker tells its readers the story of the two main characters, Zoe and Byron, and the conflict that Zoe inevitably expects as he radically plans to change his sexual identity. Zach, the man who thought and decided to "change sex" was confronted with the dilemma that his best friend, Byron, will not be able to accept his new 'identity' once he reveals to him his intention to change his sexual identity. Byron's decision to somehow accept his friend's crucial decision, after the conflict that escalated from Zach's revelation, was somehow resolved by the individual decision of the characters themselves to change their own course in life, not as dictated by the society, but as dictated by their own selves.

Alison Baker's story becomes a contemplation of the social issue of homosexuality and radical changes in an individual's life. Society has always been attached to the preservation of the status quo, but there are events and instances in a person's life where an individual must make hard, hurtful, yet satisfying decisions that will eventually make them happy. Zach's decision to become homosexual definitely caused a strain in his relationship/friendship with Byron. However, the satisfaction that comes from within Zach's (or Zoe's) self after the revelation makes him also happy and finally free. Hostility and uncertainty after the revelation ("I think you're letting this come between us") was replaced by acceptance and advancement towards a new, better, and satisfying life. Indeed, accepting the changes that comes in our lives may cause us some problems in our personal relationship and dealings with other people, but the long-term effect of coming into terms with truth and change (for the development of an individual) is more substantial and important than the conflict a changing individual may have experienced initially.