In Jane Austen's novel "Pride and Prejudice," Mr. Collins is a character who is quite memorable due to his ridiculous behavior and ridiculous beliefs. One of the key aspects of Mr. Collins' character is his age, which is mentioned several times throughout the novel.
Mr. Collins is described as being a man in his late 20s or early 30s, which was considered to be relatively old for a single man at the time the novel was written. This is significant because it indicates that Mr. Collins is at an age where he should be considering marriage and settling down, but he has not yet done so.
This is partly due to the fact that Mr. Collins is a clergyman, and as such he has been able to postpone marriage in order to focus on his career. However, it is also clear that Mr. Collins is not particularly popular with the ladies, as he is described as being pompous and self-absorbed.
Despite his advanced age, Mr. Collins is still very much a child in terms of his emotional maturity and his understanding of the world. He is heavily influenced by his patron, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, and is prone to acting in a manner that is self-serving and obsequious.
Overall, Mr. Collins' age is an important aspect of his character because it helps to explain why he is the way he is. It also serves as a contrast to the younger characters in the novel, such as Elizabeth Bennet, who are much more self-aware and confident.
"A Rose for Emily" is a short story written by William Faulkner, published in 1930. The story follows the life of its protagonist, Miss Emily Grierson, as she navigates the changing world around her.
Miss Emily is a complex and enigmatic character, and Faulkner's writing style, which frequently shifts between past and present tense, adds to the mystery surrounding her. Despite being a central figure in the story, Miss Emily remains somewhat of an enigma to the reader, as Faulkner presents her through the eyes of the townspeople, rather than through her own thoughts and emotions.
Miss Emily is depicted as a woman who is resistant to change and deeply rooted in the past. She is described as "a tradition, a duty, and a care" to the town, and her house is described as an "eyesore" that "had once been white, decorated with cupolas and spires and scrolled balconies in the heavily lightsome style of the seventies." This description suggests that Miss Emily's home is a relic of a bygone era, and that she is herself a relic of the past, unable or unwilling to adapt to the modern world.
Despite her resistance to change, Miss Emily's life is marked by significant loss and change. She loses her father at a young age, and is left alone to care for her sickly and demanding mother. After her mother's death, Miss Emily is left alone in the house, and becomes increasingly isolated from the rest of the town. She refuses to pay her taxes and stubbornly refuses to allow the town to install modern conveniences, such as indoor plumbing, in her home.
Miss Emily's most significant loss, however, is the death of her lover, Homer Barron. Homer is a Yankee, and the townspeople view him as an outsider and a threat to Miss Emily's reputation. Despite their objections, Miss Emily and Homer become romantically involved, and it is implied that they may have even become engaged. However, Homer suddenly disappears, and Miss Emily is left alone once again.
The revelation of Miss Emily's relationship with Homer and his subsequent disappearance is one of the most shocking moments in the story. Faulkner's use of the past tense to describe this event adds to the sense of mystery and uncertainty surrounding Miss Emily's actions. It is revealed that Miss Emily has purchased poison and that she has been seen visiting the town's druggist, leading the townspeople to speculate that she has killed Homer.
However, it is ultimately revealed that Miss Emily has not killed Homer, but rather has preserved his body in a upstairs bedroom in her home. This revelation is shocking and disturbing, and it is clear that Miss Emily's actions are driven by her deep love for Homer and her unwillingness to let go of him.
In conclusion, Miss Emily Grierson is a complex and enigmatic protagonist in "A Rose for Emily." Despite her resistance to change and her deep roots in the past, her life is marked by significant loss and change. Her relationship with Homer Barron and her decision to preserve his body in her home are shocking and disturbing, and serve to highlight the depth of her love for him and her unwillingness to let go of the past.
