아버지와 딸의 관계:「라파치니의 딸」과 「에밀리에게 장미를」을 중심으로

Abstract

"Rappaccini's Daughter" by Hawthorne and "A Rose for Emily" by Faulkner seem apparently different not only in story and narrative techniques but also in the female characters' appearance and the places where they live. On a more fundamental level, however, they share the following similarities: they rarely go out of their houses; the only family member they have is their fathers; they meet violent deaths after short-lived love affairs. Hawthorne ends his story ambiguously, but these are clear: Dr. Rappaccini makes the poison, and he is responsible for what Beatrice is now; his rival, Baglioni, delivers the antidote; Giovanni makes her drink it, and she dies. At her death, the two scientists show satisfactory smile. Thus, the whole story can be read as Baglioni's 'intrigue'. Dr. Rappaccini succeeds in making poison, and Baglioni succeeds in making an antidote. They both use the daughter and godson as equipment for scientific experiments.Emily in "A Rose for Emily" is not only physically secluded in her big house also mentally isolated from the society. When she goes out on a date with Barron the yankee, people are happy but worried because they see her not as a woman but as a symbol of the South. As her old house does not go along with the newer, neighboring buildings, and it is a monument and a part of southern tradition to them, they want her to stay as such. Because she is Emily Grierson, the name of Grierson lets her defeat the elders of the town and their sons, and it also drives her to make a radical choice. Her father controlled her life while alive, and he still confines her even after his death. It can be said, therefore, that Beatrice is secluded because of the poison given by her father and Emily is idolized and symbolized by her name which was given by her father. Their fathers, whether alive or dead, control their daughters' lives.