Power can be determined as dominance over something or someone. Having power is an important factor in life. Once power is established, it can become good or bad. Power is often abused and used to manipulate others. Killing Chickens by Meredith Hall and Lincolnites by Ron Rash both display the theme of power. Power is exemplified in a good and bad manner between the two stories. Lincolnites and Killing Chickens have similar main characters in the aspect of both of them being mothers and not having a husband at home. Dominance over the family is given to both mothers in order to survive without a male figure in the house. This becomes an important factor in both stories. Without power, the two mothers would not be able to protect their family. This represents the importance of having power.…show more content… The mother experiences power in two different forms, good and bad. When the mother endured a separation from her husband it enabled her to gain power over the household. Once the power was established, the mother accustomed phases of stress. Gaining power resulted in the mother becoming unsure of her ability to run the household. This power eventually became vigorous when she discovered how to handle and do things her husband used to do. This resulted in Lincolnites addresses power through male and female roles. In this story, power is placed in Lily’s hands more than once. The power switches between Lily and the confederate soldier. In the beginning, Lily has power over her household in the aspect that her husband is gone for the war and she was in charge of the children. The confederate solider that visits her land establishes power over Lily and her family when he demands her to give up the horse and chickens. Towards the end of the story, Lily retains the power back whenever she kills the confederate
