Similarities Between A Rose For Emily And The Garden Party As An Allegory

In William Faulker’s “A Rose for Emily” and Katherine Mansfield’s “The Garden Party” social class is the allegory. The protagonist in each, Emily Grierson and Laura Sheridan, were born into wealth and were aware of the social statues they possessed. Being part of the elite has advantages as well as disadvantages; financial security, unmerited respect, and privileges verse nativity, limitation of companions and high familial obligations. Social class dominates a large portion of their lives due to primarily negative expectations for the upper-middle class. Emily and Laura were raised in wealthy homes with the comfort of financial security, though Emily lost the majority of her riches when her father died in her thirties. Possessing money was a symbol of importance which was greeted with unmerited respect. “Alive, Miss Emily had been a tradition, an obligation, and a care; a sort of …show more content…
Miss Emily quite literally lost her mind and poisoned Homer Barron to prevent herself from dying alone while Laura describes her adventure down the hill as “simply marvelous” (pg.338). Despite all the riches and luxuries at their disposal, both Emily and Laura crave the aspects of a simple life free of expectations and scrutiny. Being considered a “fallen monument” (pg.251) is not as important as “absurd class distinctions”(pg.329). Miss Emily remained confident and outwardly “demanded more than ever the recognition of her dignity as the last Grierson” (pg.254) despite having just reputation to hold on to. Laura is more open to the lives of the lower-class and took deliberate action to “show the tall fellow how at home she felt, and how she despised stupid social conventions” (pg.329). Though the narration of “A Rose for Emily” is not first person we can presume she was unhappy with social conventions due to her love for Homer – a day