Southern literature, particularly Southern Gothic literature, is notable for its perceptions and observations of the American South. Death, mental illness, and oppression are just some of the common themes in Southern Gothic literature, making it very different from other American literary texts. Two famous authors, Flannery O'Connor and William Faulkner, capitalized on Southern Gothic themes. Flannery O'Connor's A Good Man Is Hard to Find, about the calm of a Southern family at the hands of a killer, and William Faulkner's A Rose for Emily, an elderly woman whose lover's body rots in the bedroom, are both laudable examples and show the outdated views on Southern culture and expectations. A Good Man Is Hard to Find and A Rose for Emily share many perspectives on brainwashed Southern mentalities, Southern archetypes, and morbid consequences. An important theme that can be seen in both stories is outdated views on etiquette and culture. In O'Connor's A Good Man Is Hard to Find, the grandmother is the character who displays the most naivety. As the story progresses, readers learn that she remains true to the values ​​of ancient Southern culture, while the rest of society advances toward modern views. “'In my time,' said the grandmother, crossing her thin, veiled fingers, 'children were more respectful of their country of origin, their parents and everything else. People did well at that time. Oh, look at the cute little pickaninny!' " she said, pointing to a black child standing in front of the door of a cabin" (O'Connor 424). This quote says a lot about the grandmother's beliefs. She thinks that in the past people were respectful, but today people don't follow... middle of paper ... ending with death, the characters' deaths end in different ways. The grandmother from A Good Man Is Hard to Find is an annoying character and would not receive as much sympathy from the reader as Emily from A Rose for Emily, who was born into a sheltered life and would be seen as a victim of loneliness. , O'Connor and Faulkner both expressed their disapproval of attachment to the Old South in creative ways. Both A Good Man Is Hard to Find and A Rose for Emily symbolize the outdated mentalities of the South, the typical Southern archetype, and the horrific conclusions of Southern Gothic literature. Both stories challenge the traditions of the Old South and the attachments to it. Together, A Good Man Is Hard to Find and A Rose for Emily are excellent examples of South American literature and have a strong impact on the writing community..