William Faulkner’s An Odor of Verbena †An Act of Courage :: Odor Verbena

William Faulkners An Odor of Verbena An Act of courageousnessWilliam Faulkners short story An Odor of Verbena is the tale of a offspring, Southern man, Baynard Sartoris, who must come to terms with his fathers emergent (but not entirely unexpected) murder. Because this murder takes place in the decade pursuit the Civil War, young Baynard is faced with the Souths ancient unearned code. This code dictates that, as the only son of his father, he must vindicate this death. Should Baynard fail to retaliate on his fathers behalf by confronting the murderer, Redmond, who erst was his fathers business partner, both Baynard and his family would lose face inwardly their community.Faulkner uses the two primary women of the story to represent the two options open to young Baynardeach is trying to pull him in an opposite direction. Drusilla, Baynards stepmother, and his aunt Jenny represent the two conflicting views and solutions that Baynard must struggle with. Does he challenge Redmond to a duel? or merely walk out-of-door from the situation. Both women try to work on Baynards emotions and intellect in their attempt to sway him to their conflicting points of view. Either choice could have a lasting or fatal consequence for Baynard and his family.In this story Faulkner appears to be using Drusilla as the primary voice representing the old Southern esteem system, an honor system that is distinctly masculine. As the grieving widow, it is Drusilla who seems to be get-up-and-go the hardest for retribution in the form of a duelan option that would set Baynards life at risk. Baynard is despoilly home after his persistent ride back from college when Drusilla directs, not asks, him to take the dueling pistols (Faulkner 459). Drusilla expects Baynard to challenge her husbands killer with the long true dueling barrels true as rightness (Faulkner 459). She is inflamed and passionate about Baynards chance to kill and speaks glowingly of what so many Southern men in the same amaze must have thought to be permitted to kill, to be permitted vengeance, to take into your bare hands the fire of heaven that cast down Lucifer (Faulkner 460). Drusilla expects that Baynard unrivalled day will be grateful for her support. She tells him that you will remember me who assign into your hands what they say is an attribute only of Gods, who took what belongs to heaven and gave it to you (Faulkner 459).