Southern Gothic Literature

Two short stories, “A Rose for Emily” and “A Good Man is Hard to Find,” are perfect examples of Southern Gothic literature. Southern Gothic literature has points that must be satisfied in order to be classified in this genre. “A Rose for Emily” and “A Good Man is Hard to Find” satisfy all of these requirements. These requirements include setting in the south, puzzling characters, and exposing the deeper issue behind the face value of problems. These two short stories combine these three elements to produce two pieces of Southern Gothic literature. “A Rose for Emily” takes place in the south. The narrator states, “When miss Emily Grierson died, our whole town went to her funeral” (Faulkner 714). This communal bond is a trait commonly scene
Being left alone, and a pauper, she had become humanized” (716). Emily is left will all of the pressures of being a woman. She has no husband, no direct family members, she is lives by herself, and she feels unloved. Emily probably felt humiliated and degraded from the stigmatism of being a woman. Emily didn’t meet to the standard of a typical woman. “A Rose for Emily” states, “we just stood there, looking down at the profound and fleshless grin. The body had apparently once lain in the attitude of an embrace” (720). Emily probably killed and kept Homer because he made her forget about the standards she is supposed to live up to because of her gender. Homer’s body made Emily feel loved and wanted even if it couldn’t love her back. “A Rose for Emily” accurately portrays the stress women are faced with being wanted and loved. “A Good Man Is Hard to Find” takes place in various locations in the state of Georgia. The grandmother and the Misfit are two interesting characters in this short story. The grandmother believes she is a lady. She believes she is a good lady because she dresses in an appropriate manner, is respectable, and is a Christian. Throughout the story, the grandmother believes there are few truly good people left in the world. She states, “It isn’t a soul in the green world of God’s that you can trust” (O’Connor 1288). She is constantly rethinking of past times, lying, and causing
The Misfit states, “they could prove I had committed one [crime] because they had papers on me” (1294). The Misfit opening states he has committed crimes giving him a trait the grandmother doesn’t possess, honesty. The grandmother states, “I know you wouldn’t shoot a lady. Pray! Jesus, you ought not to shoot a lady” (1295). The grandmother states this while her family is being murdered. This Christian lady is only concerned with her own personal salvation instead a sacrifice of her own life for her family. This shows the true character of the grandmother. The grandmother is not a lady, but is a uncompassionate hypocrite. The Misfit and the grandmother give each other grace and forgiveness for the sins they have committed. The book states, “his voice seemed to crack and the grandmother’s head cleared for an instant” (O’Connor 1295). This second of serenity is symbolic for redemption in Christianity. Towards the end of the story the Misfit states, “it’s no real pleasure in life” (O’Connor 1296). This statement could mean killing doesn’t thrill the Misfit like it used to. Maybe God has touched the Misfit and he could change his ways. “A Good Man Is Hard to Find” teaches us morality in humanity is almost extinct; however, through salvation and redemption integrity can be restored to even the most unlikely and undeserving characters. “A Good Man Is Hard to Find” and “A Rose for Emily” are two examples of Southern