Influences in
In literature we often encounter characters being influenced by an outside force. These influences are the exercises of a moral or a secret control over the actions of another. Usually brought about by a controlling or directing power based not on authority, but on social, moral, financial, or other forms of ascendency. Sometimes the power of privately controlling the acts of those in authority brings about persuasive capabilities. These influences can have a positive or negative effect on the characters' lives, depending on their reactions to the influence. The effect of predominance is seen in William Faulkner's "A Rose for Emily." "A Rose for Emily" is about a "stubborn and coquettish" (Pg. 479) girl trying to make her way as an independent woman after her father's tragic death. In this work, Faulkner develops the idea that influences from our past and present affect our lives; making these influences work to our benefit creates prosperous lives, while continuing to believe in these influences after they are no longer applicable in our lives leads to twisted lives. Influences have spanned back as far as man has existed. Even an animal can have social dominance over another animal. In the following quotation we see the inf
In this we see Miss Emily's trust in the authority figure. We can interpret that the reason she believes Colonel Sartoris is that he is a veteran from WWI. This allows him to fit the stereotype of an authority figure. Although Colonel Sartoris only offered Emily this idea because "Miss Emily would have [not] accepted charity." (Pg. 479) Faulkner says that " only a man of Colonel Sartoris' generation and thought could have invented it, and only a women could have believed it." (Pg. 479) In this we can interpret that Colonel Sartoris is a radical man and that he uses his power as the authority figure in a negative way. By doing this deed Colonel Sartoris dooms Emily to a life long hassle over her taxes. When Colonel Sartoris dies and it is time for Emily to pay her taxes Emily refuses. She states that she has "no taxes in Jefferson, Colonel Sartoris explained it to me." (Pg. 480) Because she can no let go of Colonel Sartoris' influence after his death, Emily leads herself into a twisted life. In this Faulkner furthers his idea that influences past and present affects our lives and continuing to believe in these influences after they are no longer applicable leads to twisted lives. All life brings inevitable influences that we must properly conquer. If these influences are handled with caution and care then our lives will be prosperous and fulfilling --- this is the gem at the heart of Faulkner's story. To bring this matter of Miss Emily and Faulkner's ideas about influence to some telling close, the author implies that life is all about influences. These influences may be social, political, economical, cultural, and intellectual. If a human properly tackles these influences then their life will be prosperous. If they continue to believe in these influences after they are no longer applicable, then their life will become twisted. Emily's father does not allow Emily to see men thereby condemning her as a youth to remain "stubborn and coquettish." (Pg.479) This stubborn nature of Emily's furthers her inability t
Some common words found in the essay are:
Emily Emily's, Emily Faulkner's, Miss Emily, Colonel Sartoris, , Rose Emily, Griersons Emily's, Colonel Sartoris', King Queens, Yankee Pg, pg 479, colonel sartoris, pg 481, emily's father, leads twisted, believe influences, leads twisted lives, pg 482, idea influences, influences past, believe influences applicable, lives influences, idea influences past, continuing believe influences, lives continuing believe,
Approximate Word count = 1366
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)
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