Similarities Between A Rose For Emily And The Cask Of Amontillado
“Selfishness is that detestable vice which no one will forgive in others, and no one is without himself.” This quote from an American Congregationalist clergyman, Henry Ward Beecher best describes the two short stories “A Rose for Emily” by William Faulkner and “The Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Allan Poe. These stories deal with death in a gruesome fashion. Both Miss Emily and Montresor show narcissistic traits and they committed murder to satisfy their own selfish justifications. These two stories have many similarities in their themes, but they also have unique differences.
Faulkner begins “A Rose for Emily” with Miss Emily’s death and he ends it with a death as well. The development of the story gives readers a glimpse of Miss Emily’s
lonely life; we also witness how his father became responsible for her seclusion and her pride kept her from reaching out to the townspeople. Miss Emily’s physical and emotional isolation affect her actions and her choices in life. She is an example of a person who lived on the shadow of the past and she was afraid of change. But when she accepts Homer Barron into her life, who represents advancement into the town, she also let progression come into her house and that temporarily made her forget her dark past. Their romantic relationship didn’t last long and when Homer started acting strange, Miss Emily knew that he will leave her soon so she decided to kill him. This unusual act shows the effects of Miss Emily’s past to her thinking and emotions. Death is the only way she knows that can let Homer stay with her which is a sign of desperation.
“The Cask Of Amontillado” by Edgar Allan Poe tells the narrator’s story of revenge on Fortunato, a fellow nobleman who insults him all the time. Montresor tricks Fortunato into a wine-tasting excursion by telling him he has pipe of what he believes to be a rare kind of Amontillado. Motresor knows Fortunato will not say no and he offers him wine to keep him drunk. Meanwhile, Montresor quickly chains Fortunato to the wall, reveals brick and mortar and plans to entomb Fortunato alive. The mystery of the story is Montresor’s motive for murder. It is evident that Montresor blames his unhappiness and loss of dignity within society on Fortunato. The story has a frightening fixation on death and the contrast between freedom is extreme, for one character to be free, the other must die.
These stories differ on their point of view, “A Rose for Emily” is from the perspective of a member of the town who witnesses Miss Emily’s life, her changing personality and the death of her father, her lover and herself. On the other hand, “The Cask of Amontillado” is from the murderers’ perspective who expresses extreme anger and conveys how he successfully disguises himself and his intentions to his victim. Death is the most obvious theme of both stories, which has given its protagonists self-satisfactions and happiness. While their motives for murder are somehow different but the acts of betrayal are somehow similar. Miss Emily’s motive is to be with Homer forever physically and the only way for her to let him stay is to kill him and sleep beside his corpse every night while for Montresor, his motive is to fulfill his plan to kill Fortunato for revenge. Both protagonists are flawed by their intense pride and they lives were significantly ruined by it.
Faulkner begins “A Rose for Emily” with Miss Emily’s death and he ends it with a death as well. The development of the story gives readers a glimpse of Miss Emily’s
lonely life; we also witness how his father became responsible for her seclusion and her pride kept her from reaching out to the townspeople. Miss Emily’s physical and emotional isolation affect her actions and her choices in life. She is an example of a person who lived on the shadow of the past and she was afraid of change. But when she accepts Homer Barron into her life, who represents advancement into the town, she also let progression come into her house and that temporarily made her forget her dark past. Their romantic relationship didn’t last long and when Homer started acting strange, Miss Emily knew that he will leave her soon so she decided to kill him. This unusual act shows the effects of Miss Emily’s past to her thinking and emotions. Death is the only way she knows that can let Homer stay with her which is a sign of desperation.
“The Cask Of Amontillado” by Edgar Allan Poe tells the narrator’s story of revenge on Fortunato, a fellow nobleman who insults him all the time. Montresor tricks Fortunato into a wine-tasting excursion by telling him he has pipe of what he believes to be a rare kind of Amontillado. Motresor knows Fortunato will not say no and he offers him wine to keep him drunk. Meanwhile, Montresor quickly chains Fortunato to the wall, reveals brick and mortar and plans to entomb Fortunato alive. The mystery of the story is Montresor’s motive for murder. It is evident that Montresor blames his unhappiness and loss of dignity within society on Fortunato. The story has a frightening fixation on death and the contrast between freedom is extreme, for one character to be free, the other must die.
These stories differ on their point of view, “A Rose for Emily” is from the perspective of a member of the town who witnesses Miss Emily’s life, her changing personality and the death of her father, her lover and herself. On the other hand, “The Cask of Amontillado” is from the murderers’ perspective who expresses extreme anger and conveys how he successfully disguises himself and his intentions to his victim. Death is the most obvious theme of both stories, which has given its protagonists self-satisfactions and happiness. While their motives for murder are somehow different but the acts of betrayal are somehow similar. Miss Emily’s motive is to be with Homer forever physically and the only way for her to let him stay is to kill him and sleep beside his corpse every night while for Montresor, his motive is to fulfill his plan to kill Fortunato for revenge. Both protagonists are flawed by their intense pride and they lives were significantly ruined by it.