Between both stories, I enjoyed “The Metamorphosis” the best. On some level I think it touches on humanity quite a bit, in the sense of how people tend to treat each other when things get difficult and complicated. There are times in life when something defining can happen to a person: an illness, loss of a family member, financial hardships, and it’s in these moments when a person may see who is truly supportive and understanding in their life. It’s heartbreaking when those that you have given your support and understanding to fail to reciprocate in return.

The passage that stood out to me is the following:

“One day, about a month after Gregor’s transformation when his sister no longer had any particular reason to be shocked at his appearance, she came into the room a little earlier than usual and found him still staring out the window, motionless, and just where he would be most horrible. In itself, his sister’s not coming into the room would have been no surprise for Gregor as it would have been difficult for her to immediately open the window while he was still there, but not only did she not come in, she went straight back and closed the door behind her, a stranger would have thought he had threatened her and tried to bite her. Gregor went straight to hide himself under the couch, of course, but he had to wait until midday before his sister came back and she seemed much more uneasy than usual. It made him realise that she still found his appearance unbearable and would continue to do so, she probably even had to overcome the urge to flee when she saw the little bit of him that protruded from under the couch. One day, in order to spare her even this sight, he spent four hours carrying the bedsheet over to the couch on his back and arranged it so that he was completely covered and his sister would not be able to see him even if she bent down. If she did not think this sheet was necessary then all she had to do was take it off again, as it was clear enough that it was no pleasure for Gregor to cut himself off so completely. She left the sheet where it was. Gregor even thought he glimpsed a look of gratitude one time when he carefully looked out from under the sheet to see how his sister liked the new arrangement.

I think this passage is so reflective of how Gregor is still willing to give when he is receiving  so little. He spent four hours moving the sheet to put it on top of himself to spare his sister the uncomfortableness of looking at him. He is still doing for his family and looking out for what what make them more comfortable. He not only provided for them financially, but he is still providing the comfort from unpleasantness. All his sister had to do was take the sheet off. She must have known that not only was the sheet uncomfortable to have on top of him, but also, that in removing the sheet it would have provided the kindness of acceptance and comfort. Even that small act was too much for her to grant him.

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I think the story is written mostly in third person omniscient because it seems to have a voice and description for many characters thoughts and reactions throughout the story. At first thought that this story was third person limited because it mainly showcased the thoughts and feelings of Goodman. “With excellent resolve for the future, Goodman Brown felt himself justified in  making more haste on his present evil purpose.

The reason I was torn between omniscient and limited is because throughout the text you are able to get a visual of many of the characters and descriptions of their behavior. “They turned; and flashing forth, as it were, in a sheet of flame, the fiend worshippers were seen, the smile of welcome gleamed early on every visage”. 

I felt that this style of writing , and most especially the style and language it was written in gave it a very eerie feel. More so than both “A Jury of Her Peers” and “A Rose for Emily”  which were told in third person as well. Within the story of “Young Goodman Brown”, it seems to touch on every character. It seemed easier to gage the intentions and feelings of all those surrounding the main character and opposed to “A Rose for Emily” in which the focus is mainly centered on her. The story talks of her characteristics, habits, attitude and behavior. With “Young Goodman Brown”, one is able to get a sense of each character, and with that, the reader becomes interested in the background of the story as well.

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I found both stories, “A Rose for Emily” and “A Jury of Her Peers” to have more similarities than differences. Both the mood and time period seem to be about the same. Both narrators seem to be somewhat sympathetic to the women and their plights. They paint Emily and Mrs. wright to be delicate, and fragile round characters that suffer despite the crime they have committed.  As a reader I couldn’t help but feel sad for both women. Mrs. Wright’s crime  seems somewhat more predictable in her actions after suffering years of abuse from her husband. Emily, on the other hand, seems to have suffered from insanity which my evoked sympathy while reading the story, as mental illness is a disease. Her crime was suspected towards the end of the story, but still shocking to see the climax and the falling action. Both settings seem similar. Mrs. Wright’s abuse was acknowledged and overlooked, as was more the case then than it would be today. Homer Barton’s treatment of his workers, and his disrespectful and derogatory use of the n word, was commonly used to refer to African Americans in that time period which is now far and beyond socially acceptable in today’s society.

The one difference that I did think about was the different outcomes that both these women had, though both killed the men that they once loved. For Emily; her ending was final and filled with sadness. She died having never truly lived, or receiving the love that she wanted so badly from Homer.

Mrs. Wright, on the other hand, may have had a different ending. If the sheriff and young Henderson could not find substantial motive and proof, it is quite possible that she may go free, and go on to live the life that she couldn’t while married to an abusive husband. She may yet find love, peace, and redemption.

As far as the power dynamics in the story. It comes across that the men in Emily’s life seem to hold power over her. Her life’s happiness and her choices have revolved around both her father and Homer Barron.

“None of the young men were quite good enough for Miss Emily and such”.

She waited to get married, and was her father’s companion. Perhaps, he meant for her not to get married and leave his side. Why had she not protested when she had more suitors? Homer was her last attempt to have the life in which her father had interfered. When it was apparent that he would not marry her, she took power back, one can say. She poisoned him, and held him captive in her house, and  held his body there. She held him to her in the way that her father had held her to him. Maybe that one act was the one thing that she had taken control of, horrendous and crazy as it was, she grabbed power and control in whatever way she thought how.

When she purchased that arsenic, she showed her resolve and fierceness, she didn’t get nervous or cower before that pharmacist.

“Miss Emily just stared at him, her head tilted back in order to look him eye for eye, until he looked away and went ingot the arsenic and wrapped it up”.

In that moment she got what she wanted and went on to do what she had decided. That is having power.

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In the story “The Story of an Hour”, Mrs. Mallard seems shocked and devastated to hear the news of her husband’s death. When she takes a moment alone to process the news, that she is no longer part of a union that may have defined her until present moment, a feeling opposite of despair begins to take hold within her. Excitement and wonder of the fact that she will be able to live, and be for just herself without the duties and limitations of marriage overwhelm her, and propel within her a feeling of elation.”There would be no one to live for during those coming years; she would live for herself”. Through the narrators tone, that is the impression that Mrs. Mallards reaction, and thoughts seem to convey. There is no doubt that she mourns the loss of her husband  and describes in a pleasant light. “When she saw the kind, tender hands folded in death; the face that had never looked saved with love upon her”. But she cannot contain the exhilaration and optimism of living for herself, and the feeling alone makes her physical aliment of a weak heart, all but feel invigorated. At the news that her husband has not died, and in fact, still lives, she is but all devastated. It is this devastation and realization that the life she envisioned for herself is gone in an instant and ends up weakening her heart, and sending her to her untimely death. “When the doctors came they said she had died of heart disease–of the joy that kills”. It is not the joy that killed her, but in fact, the sadness.

In  “A Jury of Her Peers”, Mrs. Wright has killed her husband. It seems that the marriage was turbulent and unhappy. Mrs. Hale alludes to the fact the Mrs. Wright was once young, vibrant and beautiful. Mr. Wright quelced her of spirit and happiness. She no longer sang, and even her clothes were described as “shabby”. It appears the Mr. Wright killed Mrs. Wrights bird, therefore robbing her of her one singular joy, and in a fit of despair and rage, she broke his neck as he had her bird’s. In comparison to “The Story of An Hour”, both women, marriages and relationships are different, yet both feel relief at the death of their husbands.

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