A Tale of Two Stories—Answer Key Question 1. How are the main characters similar and different? Similarities Differences 2. How is the character’s internal conflict similar and different? Similarities Differences 3. How are the endings similar and different? Similarities Differences 4. Both stories take place, in part, aboard a train? Why is this significant? What does the train symbolize? Similarities Differences 5. What is each story saying about desire, escape, and death? Similarities Differences “Paul’s Case” by Edith Wharton “A Journey” by Willa Cather Both characters are selfish and living in a world of what they want rather than what is. Both characters lie to get what they want. Neither character gets what he/she wants out of life. Paul hates being ordinary; he thinks he is The woman wants to make it home to her above this world. He lies to convince others family. She lies to conceal her husband’s he is something he is not death, so she won’t be kicked off the train. Both character’s conflicts are related to lying. Paul lies to himself. His conflict is between The woman is at odds with herself about attempting to continue with his delusion or keeping her husband’s death secret. She live in the real world. He feels superior and feels guilty and frightened. entitled. Both stories end in death and irony. Paul’s death is suicide. Paul chose an end The woman’s death is an accident. The rather than a beginning to his life. woman made it home, but she never knew it. The train symbolizes a journey from what the characters have to what they want. Paul takes the train to his fantasy life; then The woman’s journey is taking her from a he uses it as his weapon of choice on his world of illness and death into what should journey from this life to the next. be a life of her own; instead it takes her to death. Both stories explore the idea that desire is destructive and you cannot escape your destiny. The theme of “Paul’s Case” is that real life is The theme of “A Journey" is that all journeys worthwhile, and that living in a fantasy end in death; there is no escaping it. world—wanting what you can’t have—is destructive and dangerous to your sense of self and happiness.