Small town life within literature is often fantasized about by the authors that choose to use them as the settings for their stories. All the characters appear to be pleased with themselves and do what they can, given their circumstances, however, this is not the case in Faulkner’s The Hamlet and Anderson’s Winesburg, Ohio. These authors show that the characters within their texts are striving to achieve their own personal American dream, and that to them America itself is the very place in which they live. Although characters come and go within these small towns, some wishing to bring greatness to the town and others wondering if they will ever escape the clutches binding them to their piece of America, the migration of these characters, whether it be physical, psychological or social, alters what it means to be American for these characters. There are several characters within both texts that fear change, and long for their small America to return to its original state. For example, in The Hamlet, Faulkner’s characters, within the Varner family, do what is necessary to keep their place in the town, sitting on the veranda, chit-chatting with other men of status. Since this family is so against movement and change, the youngest member of the family, the daughter Eula, dislikes having to partake in any sort of activity that would require effort on her part. Even things such as walking and talking, she takes no part in unless forced, for she does not see any use in them. She does not fear losing her position despite being lazy, she, as her teacher Labove states is not “aware that she [is] in deadly danger” (Faulkner, pg. 132). Eula, “[does]
