Man is a social animal and he, as such, should participate in social activities, whether he likes them or not. In literature, however, we encounter not a few eccentrics who choose a highly individual mode of existence and cut themselves away from any social ties or activities. Such persons can be categorized as "solipsists," and Emily Grierson in "A Rose for Emily" and James Duffy in "A Painful Case" are extreme cases. Both Miss Grierson, an American spinster in the late 19th century and Mr. Duffy, an Irish bachelor in the early 20th century, share similarities as asocial beings while they show slightly different modes of behavior. While Emily`s seclusion from the society was forced more or less by her father who cherished traditional class-values, Duffy`s solipsistic existence proves to be his own. Their solipsistic existence, its aspects and consequences are vividly portrayed in relation to their love affairs. They are so pathological that they don`t even care about those they love; Emily`s emotional cannibalism causes Homer`s untimely death while Duffy`s autistic attitude pushes Mrs. Sinico to commit an untimely suicide. To keep her autistic world intact, Emily freezes time, totally ignoring the passage of clock time while Duffy can`t give himself to the process of loving in the present tense. He observes his own behavior as well as "fossilizes" Mrs. Sinico in his mind. Their solipsistic mode of living requires extreme cost, both emotional and physical, not only of themselves but of the others around them. Emily totally excludes herself from human society, while putting Homer in eternal sleep. Duffy shudders at the prospect of his solitude to be continued for good, while driving Mrs. Sinico to alcoholism and early death. I think we readers should try to sympathize with Duffy`s existential void as well as present another rose to Emily`s passionate but one-sided love affair.