Granny Weatherall and Miss Emily Grierson The main characters in the stories "The Jilting of Granny Weatherall" and "A Rose for Emily" have several important similarities. Although the plots, settings, and themes are different, Granny Weatherall and Miss Emily share three distinct traits that make them much alike. These similarities, however, lead to very different outcomes for each character. The main similarities between these two characters are that they are both very stubborn, alone for an extended period of time in their lives, and left by their first loves. The way that each character deals with these similar characteristics and situations, however, is very different.
The stories begin by portraying both Granny Weatherall and Miss Emily as very stubborn old women. "The Jilting of Granny Weatherall" starts out with Granny defying the doctor who comes to visit her, and in the beginning of "A Rose for Emily", Emily defies her tax collectors.
Emily's Birthday 2009
English: Emily Rose
English: Emily RoseEach woman is stubborn with denial. Granny Weatherall refuses the fact that she is dying and fights it with many excuses and anger. Even as she dies at the end, Granny is still fighting the fact that she is dying and never actually accepts her death. Miss Emily denies that her father died, and then refuses Homer Baron's rejection by killing him and keeping his body. Emily then withers away in her denial, waiting for her death.
Each woman is alone for a long period in her life. Granny Weatherall is left to raise her family and her ranch with no help. She is made stronger by all of her solitary hard work. Miss Emily's father dies and she is left in the old house with only a servant for several years. She meets Homer, and after he is killed, she is alone again.