Blog Post 2, Topic 1

In “A Rose for Emily” by William Faulkner there is a power dynamic when dealing with race. The White Southerners are placed above those who are of color. Miss Emily is described as a person who needs to be taken care of because it is the “town’s duty,” as it said, “Miss Emily had been a tradition, a duty, and a care; a sort of heredity obligation to the town.” Miss Emily is given this attention due to her social standing and race, which in the south was a big deal because she was a “pure blood.” When a person is of pure blood it means, there are of good breed (old rich) and the town feels as if they need to keep that blood protected. Whereas those of color, whom are of a low social status and are mere objects that help those who are white. Throughout the story, they are mentioned as “Negros” which is an undermining term. Those of color were not seen as part of society, white southerners felt as if those of color should not be seen outside without aprons because they are “the help.” As mentioned, “he who fathered the edict that no woman should appear on the streets without an apron.” They were not allowed to go without aprons because the town was not willing to integrate black folk into their society, whites wanted to keep them segregated, although it was long after the American Civil War.  Emily is given a full-length characterization and many lines are dedicated to her, people of color are given no more than two lines. One can interpret that the reason for this is because whites are of more importance, giving them a higher power dynamic.

                The power dynamic in “Shooting an Elephant,” by George Orwell, is seen between the protagonist and the natives. The protagonist serves for Englishmen who have conquest land in a foreign country.  The protagonist recognizes his power and sees it is wrong, “an unbreakable tyranny… upon the will of prostrate peoples,” although he recognizes the racism, he does nothing about it and accepts the truth. The protagonist speaks about his power when he must kill the elephant in front of many natives he says, “A white man mustn’t be frightened in front of ‘natives’,” demonstrating how he feels as if he has to show the natives that white people are conquistadors and are to be frightened by. The protagonist must keep up the charade even if he feels his actions are wrong. At the end, the protagonist calls the native killed as a Coringhee coolie (unskilled native), which is dehumanizing the native to keep his power. He also said he killed the elephant to avoid looking like a fool, demonstrating how whites feel the need to have power over others and are scared to be scared.

                Both stories dehumanize people of color and demonstrate their power over them. There is racism in both, however, “A Rose for Emily,” is subtle about the racism, which one can argue is more racist. This is because denying that one is racist demonstrates the hypocrisy surrounding racism and the author seems to be okay with doing so. Orwell’s story is racist; however, he acknowledges the racism, therefore it is not hidden behind words.  During conquest and after the civil war it was “normal,” to be racist because it had always been that way. Society wanted to keep their power dynamic intact and not willing to make changes. People of color were not seen as hard working people but as mere people to be controlled and stay clear of.