Kate Chopin

Kate Chopin's "The Story of an Hour" and William Faulkner's "A Rosefor Emily" both characterize the nature of marriage and womanhood by delving into the psyches of their female protagonists. Also, although Chopin makes no clear reference to geographic locale in "The Story of an Hour," both authors usually set their stories in the American South, which impacts these characterizations. These two tales share many other points of reference in common. For instance, Mrs. Mallard in "The Story of an Hour" and Emily Grierson in "A Rose for Emily" die at the end of the story, and both deaths are in some way related to how the women felt about their male partners. In fact, in both cases, the women are deeply affected by the men in their lives: their personalities and lifestyles have been shaped and molded chiefly by men. However, Mrs. Mallard and Emily Grierson develop differently. Mallard is a relatively young woman, while Grierson When Brently Mallard is presumed dead, Mrs. Mallard and Grierson also exhibit different physical characteristics. Mallard grieves when she hears her husband is dead but embraces the "long procession of years to come that would belong to her absolutely. In the end, both women die, but Mallard's death is precipitated by "a monstrous joy," unlike Grierson, who simply left behind a legacy of sadness and pity. This aspect of her character is paralleled in the springtime setting of "A Rose for Emily," in which "topsof trees that were all aquiver with the new spring life. While Grierson holes up and hides from the world, Mallard has as upportive network of friends and family to which to turn. Mallard experiences an epiphany that can potentially transform her life and which brings her immense joy; Grierson, on the other hand sank into madness and depression and killed the man she loved. Emily Grierson killed the man who spurned her, only to sleep next to his decaying corpse each night. " In stark contrast to this...