Characters Conflict in a Worn Path and a Rose for Emily

Characters Conflict in a Worn Path and a Rose for Emily

In the two short stories- “A Worn Path” by Welty and “A Rose for Emily” by Faulkner- there are some similarities in regard to the conflict of characters. A deep look at the theme and morals will reveal this and show a better understanding for the conflict in these two stories, yet the two characters Emily and Phoenix are psychologically splintered.

Love is the main moral in “A Worn Path”, as Phoenix was very old black woman with poor eyesight and who walks a very long distance through wilderness and fields to get medicine for her grandchild (Welty 270); the path she travels across interrupts her life. Her love is the love and affection she has for her grandson. Reading the story carefully will bring to the light the fact that Phoenix is actually does not have a grandson. Phoenix claims to the doctor that her grandson has had a sore throat for long time (Welty 274). This may cause the reader to believe that she used to have a grandson but he became so sick and died. Yet, at the same time Phoenix also shows her intellect by seeing the money fall out of the hunter's jacket from a far off distance (Welty 273).

In “A Rose for Emily” Miss Emily did everything to not be alone. None of the young men were quite good enough for Miss Emily and such (Faulkner 91). Comparing the two stories will show the similarity in tone, though the two stories have different location they still connect through the same tone. Phoenix Jackson is on a trail walking to town to buy some medicine for her grandson, while Miss Emily is locked up in her house with a dead man. Regardless of the location of the two stories, putting attention to their state of mind will show that they are in the same atmosphere. Phoenix’s journey represents the challenge of her life. Miss Emily on the other hand is just looking to not be so alone. They both know that if they set their mind to their goal then they can accomplish anything they wish to. The theme...