Rose For Emily Essay

"A Rose for Emily" written by William Faulkner is a short story that gives most people quite a shock when it comes to the ending. The story tells about how Miss Emily Grierson changes after her father dies. Miss Emily lives in a beautiful home with an African American servant named, Tobe. After Miss Emily's father passed away she would never leave the house. Miss Emily was in denial about her father'sdeath. For three days Emily would tell the townspeople that her father was not dead. The townspeople began to think Miss Emily was crazy because of her behavior, "Emily's subsequent behavior clearly shows that the death of her father was a piece of reality disavowed by her ego" (Scherting). Including, Miss Emily wouldn't pay her taxes, the eerie smell around her house and the fact she killed her lover. Emily's life, like her decaying house, starts to suffer from attention. What else could go wrong? When Miss Emily's father passed away she began to start acting out. Emily is stuburned like her father, who refuses to change. Although her father had lots of money, he only left Miss Emily the home. Soon the town started asking Miss Emily to pay her taxes. But, she refused to do so. Colonel Sartoris, the mayor of the town, planned to not make Miss Emily pay taxes on her house, "Not that Miss Emily would have accepted charity" (452), trying not to make it seem like Colonel Sartoris was offering her charity. He made up an imaginary loan from her father to the town

Some people love change, but others absolutely dislike it. When something big changes in one's life, will it change who they are, or will they fight back? This short story shows how when a person grows up relying only on one person when they leave, it will change everything about that person. In the southern gothic story "A rose for Emily" by William Faulkner uses characterization, allegory, and allusion display the idea that the toll that death can take on one's life could be drastic.

Characterization showed the true personality of Miss Emily and how her father's death shaped her. The many issues in thisshort story all started at how Miss Emily was raised. She was raised to only rely on her father, who was very protective over her. When...show more content...

We can see that this story makes a lot of indirect references in the text. "I want some poison, the best that you have. I didn't care what kind." (pg.

3) Allusion is shown because it made it seem like she was going to commitsuicide. This is evidence that she most likely killed Homer Barron because he was poorer while her dad wasn't, so she knew that he would never approve, which could've cause her to kill him. This created an allusion in her mind that it was acceptable for her to poison someone because of what her dead father would think.

Characterization, allegory, and allusion all play a large role as to why Miss Emily has attachment issues and is unable to move on from the past and look forward to the future. Though there was no visible or literal rose, it did symbolize Miss Emily and how she started out mentally healthy and then as all the major events took place, it shows how roses fade, along with her mental health. This story is the perfect example to not be too not let the struggles in life overcome Get

Rose For Emily

The short story "A Rose for Emily" by William Faulkner was an exceptionally great story which I thoroughly enjoyed as it was creepy and unfolded many mysteries that I would have never guessed. "A Rose for Emily" describes the obstacles and tragedies that Emily has gone throughout her life. The story begins with a large group of townspeople at the funeral of the lead character, Miss Emily. From there, the author displays a flashback of what occurred before her death and then what lead to the present state of Emily. There are many interesting plot changes that occur within the story thus hooks the reader's interest to continue reading, including mine. This short story portrays what the lack of love and attention can do to an individual such as Miss Emily Grierson and what it can also result to. In this essay, I will analyze "A Rose for Emily" and explain the various conflicts Emily faces.

As a young girl, Miss Emily was controlled by her father; she was not able to be acquainted with other men and none of the men were good enough for her as she was of high...show more content...

Thirty years previously, a new generation of city authorities had come into her home to convince her to pay her debt although she denied of owing anything as she believed that the tax exemption still applied, thus displaying her stubborn attitude of not letting go of the past. Her personality was very much like the tough old south "Thus she passed from generation to generation–dear, inescapable, impervious, tranquil, and perverse."

(Faulkner et al., 326) While being inside her home, the city authorities had noticed a foul smell lingering in the old, dusty house. Miss Emily isolating herself inside her home represented the inner battles she had been containing within Get more content

Desperation for love arising from detachment can lead to extreme measures and destructive actions as exhibited by the tumultuous relationships of Miss Emily in William Faulkner's "A Rose for Emily" (rpt. in Thomas R. Arp and Greg Johnson, Perrine's Literature: Structure, Sound, and Sense, 9th ed. [Boston: Wadsworth, 2006] 556). Miss Emily is confined from society for the majority of her life by her father, so after he has died, she longs for relations that ironically her longing destroys. The despondency and obsession exuded throughout the story portray the predicament at hand. Miss Emily's relationship with her father is a key factor in the development of her isolation. As she is growing up, he will not let anybody around his daughter,...show more content...

When Miss Emily finds somebody, though, it quickly pushes her to desperation. Her relationship with Homer Barron is a result of the life and death of her father. Ironically, he is a northern, roughneck Yankee, the exact opposite of any connection a Grierson would consider. Unsuspectingly, Emily is attracted to him, which is an oddity itself considering her lack of personality and his obvious charisma, for "whenever you [hear] a lot of laughing...Homer Barron [will] be in the center of the group" (560). He is also the first man to show an interest in her without her father alive to scare him off. The town is doubtful that the pair will remain together, but Emily's attachments are extreme, as seen when she would not surrender her father's body. The circumstance exhibits how her feelings are greatly intensified towards Homer. However, he is "not a marrying man" (561). When it appears as though he will leave her, she kills him with poison. While seemingly the opposite effect of love, killing Homer is quite in line with her obsession. If he is dead and she keeps Homer all to herself, Emily will never lose him; he can never leave her. Other such details that express her extreme attachments appear as she buys him clothes and toiletries before they are even considered married. There is also the revelation at the end of the story that she has been keeping his body for over thirty years and sleeping with it, clearly demonstrating her overt desperation

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Stuck in the past in "A Rose for Emily" by Faulkner Change causes a person to do things out of the norm. It is common for people to fear change. Most people although afraid will accept the changes and adapt to it. Others will control that change unwilling to adhere to the new and unfamiliar way of things. Many are stuck in the past, in the traditions that guide their lives. Emily Grierson is a product of the Old South, rich in traditions and set in her ways. The New south means change; traditions are lost and replaced with new customs. Even though afraid of change Emily will control the changes in her life, the loss of her father, the respect of the town, and even the reality of her own life in "A Rose for Emily" by Faulkner.

I....show more content...

It is common for people to fear change. Most people although afraid will accept the changes and adapt to it. Others will control that change unwilling to adhere to the new and unfamiliar way of things. Many are stuck in the past, in the traditions that guide their lives. Emily Grierson is a product of the Old South, rich in traditions and set in her ways. The New south means change; traditions are lost and replaced with new customs. Even though afraid of change Emily will control the changes in her life, the loss of her father, the respect of the town, and even the reality of her own life in "A Rose for Emily" by Faulkner. Initially after the loss of her father Emily Grierson refuses to let go of him and the influence he has over her in "A Rose for Emily". Emily's father was a big part of her existence he was the only man in her life. For years he had ran off suitor that had called upon Emily. Once he was gone it is hard for her to adapt to life without him. She refuses to believe that he is dead telling the ladies of the town "that her father was not dead" (101). She had been very close to her father and without him her live would not be the same. She never leaves the house she stays secluded from the town. By remaining alone she will not have to face the fact that any change has taken place.

Above all Emily thinks that her name means something to the town, losing the respect of the town's people Get

Essay 1 – Prose Analysis This paragraph is found near the end of the short story, "A Rose for Emily," by William Faulkner. In this excerpt, we are thrust into the funeral of Emily, and the effect of her death upon the townsfolk. Emily, a reclusive and apparently mentally disturbed spinster, has been a talked about figure in the town for the majority of her years. Her life and death have been all about relationships – both of the ones she had, as well of the ones she did not have. We learned that, although her relationships with the townsfolk were at times both cordial and strained, they came to her funeral in order to pay a kind of tribute to an object of their pity for,...show more content...

Through this methodology, Faulkner shows a true genius in not being obvious with his craft, instead ensuring that his choice of words create a true picture in the mind's eye, with the reader automatically creating a dialogue amongst the ladies. This passage, although several lines in length, consists of only two sentences. The first is very brief, consisting of only seven words. As this sentence relates to Emily's cousins, it is also reflective of her relationship with her extended family: it exists, but to a degree that is barely worth mentioning. The second sentence is far lengthier, relates to the townsfolk and her father, and as such is useful in elaborating on her tortuous relationships with these people. It is a compound sentence, dealing with many discrete ideas at once. There is the funeral and the compulsive, socially driven reaction of the townsfolk to all attend. Next, there is the element of progress ("bought flowers," where once people would have brought cut flowers from their own gardens) as compared to Emily's passing being representative of a bygone era. The very old men continue this theme of a bygone era, although they were in fact older than Emily ("...as if she had been a contemporary of theirs..."), and are also reflective of Emily's failed attempts at relationships with men, as well as the infinite influence of her father upon her life. And, of course, there is the element of time, which pervades the entire story, and is Get more content

Pity for Emily???      In the short story A Rose for Emily, by William Faulkner there is a very interesting character. Her Name is Emily Grierson and she is a rich southern gentile. All her life it seems that she was raised at a standard that was above the rest. By living such a secluded and controlled life it set her up for the happenings in her future.      When her father passed away she had nobody to tell her what to do and how to act. This was very devastating and she had a hard time dealing with change. So much so that she wouldn't let the police take the body of her father out of the house for three days after his death. The only thing that was constant in her house was the slave...show more content...      By losing this father figure she was left to fend for herself and was virtually helpless. When she finally found a male that showed some interest and emotion, she was attached to them. That's where Homer Barron comes into the story. He would visit Emily and go for Sunday drives with her. When Homer told Emily that he must move on she found herself on the verge of loneliness once again. If Homer would leave it would be two men that have left her. When she realized that he was about to leave she poisoned him and would keep him forever.      In her mind she had the one thing she needed most, companionship. Even if it was a dead corpse, it was stilling something. In the end of the story when the book states, "We saw a long strand of iron gray hair," it was obvious that she sought refuge from the world in that bed with Homer. However twisted that may sound it showed how desperate she really was. That is the pint in the story where things really change. If you look back on her life and how everyone in town abandoned her, you really have strong feelings for her. You feel sorry that she was left to fend for herself without any idea of what to do. She did what she felt she had to do, and in her mind it was all right.      The author wrote this story as a literary genius. There is an extreme level of suspense that leaves you wanting

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Samuel Martin Instructor Waszak

December 7, 2014

"A Rose for Emily": Explain what we learn about Miss Emily's character in the story (not just what she does, but what kind of person she is). Use specific evidence found in the story to support your conclusions. Be alert to the possibility that the narrator who reveals this evidence to us might have certain biases of his/her/their own.

In the poem "A Rose for Emily", William Faulkner stated that "another sad and tragic manifestation of man's condition [is] in which he dreams and hopes, in which he is in conflict with himself or with his environment or with others" (Faulkner 79–80). In "A Rose for Emily," a young girl, Emily Grierson, faces a rather tragic life and undergoes...show more content...

In her killing of Homer, she is holding onto the past– she is attempting to hold on to the relationship that she and Homer once had, or she wished that she had. She keeps his corpse lying in bed next to her, which is implied when it was "noticed that in the second pillow was the indentation of a head" and a "long strand of iron–gray hair" (78). Emily's inability to let go of the past has been exemplified in the examples of her refusal to pay taxes and her murdering of Homer. However, the true cause of her inability to let go of the past lies in her conflict with in herself.

Faulkner wrote "A Rose for Emily" with the intent to focus on the tragedy of man's inner conflict, as well as outer. The two examples given are perfect in demonstrating these two types of conflicts. In the first, Emily is in conflict with her surroundings, in which the town officials are trying to tax her. In the second, Emily is in conflict with herself. She "knew that you do not murder people. She had been trained that you do not take a lover. You marry, you don't take a lover" (80). Emily tries to embrace the tradition and background of getting married, having a family, and being in love. However, these aspirations soon caused her to break down when Homer was going to leave. These conflicts, most importantly the one within herself, strongly impacted Emily to be unable to let go of the past. Over all, in "A Rose for

William Faulkner wrote the American gothic tale A Rose for Emily in the early 1930s which appears to suggest to the readers that the transition between past and present is indeed difficult but not impossible. The author utilizes literary devices throughout his spiel to connect a practically symbolic relationship to the recreation time of the setting. Indeed, even though these images are interested in elucidation; they are the absolute entirety of the story. With the strict importance of the narrative that infers a wide range of conclusions; it is essentially the metaphors, symbols and repetitions which give the story meaning. A "fallen monument" (437). Miss Emily was an important character, so much so that she was highly regarded and possible deeply respected that even the men felt her passing was that of a monument falling. Faulkner also proposes her previous wonder and her later offensiveness. She was described as a landmark; a...show more content...

The term became repetitive as far back as her dad passed away which made it her epithet. "When her father died, it got about that the house was all that was left to her; and in a way, people were glad. At last they could pity Miss Emily. Being left alone, and a pauper, she had become humanized. Now she too would know the old thrill and the old despair of a penny more or less" (439).The people in town did not begrudge her looks and money any longer, they somehow felt sorry about her since she was by herself and the years were becoming a heavy weight on her shoulders (and her face). "So the next day we all said, "She will kill herself"; and we said it would be the best thing" (440). The villagers did made a misguided thinking on the lady when they thought she was attempting to murder herself with the toxin, at the point when in actuality her thought was she would not like to be separated from the man that she loved. Everyone in town felt sorry for "[P]oor Emily"

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A Rose for Emily tells the tale of a lonely woman named Emily Grierson and the events that occur since her father died up and up until her death. The unique thing about this story is that it isn't told in chronological order. Faulkner transitions from the past to the present all throughout the story. The events being out of order make the story more interesting and it also creates suspense. The audience might be confused at times but at the end of the story everything adds up and makes sense. I think that if Faulkner had told it in chronological order it would have been boring and predictable. The story is divided into five sections. The first section says that Miss Emily has died and the whole town goes to her funeral. The...show more content...

Emily and Homer grow closer and the townspeople notice their relationship. They start to gossip and bad mouth them because it's embarrassing to her family that Emily is dating a man from a lower social class than her. Tired of being ridiculed by the whole town, Emily goes to a drugstore to buy arsenic. The druggist says, "if that's what you want. But the law requires you to tell what you are going to use it for." (Faulkner 213), but Emily didn't say anything. All throughout the story, Faulkner writes in a way that makes us feel sympathy for Emily. For example, at the end of the story we find out that she didn't really commit suicide with the arsenic she bought. When I was reading the third section, I really felt bad for Emily because I thought that she was going to commit suicide. Her life seemed pretty horrible. Her father died so she was pretty much all alone and then when she finally found love, the town wouldn't stop ridiculing her. So it made sense to me that she had reasons to kill herself. Faulkner's out of order events tricked us into thinking she bought the arsenic for herself. In a way, this made the story more interesting because when I was reading that paragraph, I was really interested in it. Even the townspeople assume that she is going to kill herself so they call a Baptist minister to personally speak with Emily. The minister tried his best to help but he couldn't so his wife writes to Emily's two cousins that live in Get more content

Imagery In A Rose For Emily

"A Rose for Emily" An Essay by Emilio Salomon

William Faulkner was born on September 25, 1897, in New Albany, Mississippi. He was the oldest of four Brothers since a very young age William developed a love for literature.He was awarded multiple awards including Nobel prices and Pulitzer awards. William Faulkner is known for his stories about the decadence of the south and the tones his stories have. In this story, we see how Emily is a symbol for the town of the old South and how everyone need to adapt to the new changes in the town. William tone influences every part of his stories."A Rose for Emily" is about Emily Grierson a girl in a post–civil war Mississippi and how she isolated from everyone during tough situations. In "A Rose for Emily" William Faulkner use of imagery and symbolism help us develop the theme of the story. William Faulkner use of imagery helps us understand the emotions of different characters throughout the story and the setting of the story. In the story, imagery can be seen multiple times. An example can be seen when the Board of Aldermen sent a deputation to collect Emily's taxes. "They were admitted by the old Negro into a dim hall from which a stairway mounted into more shadow." The use of imagery in this sentence explains how and by who the deputation as received into Emily's house also it explains the mysteriousness of Emily's house with the words, "stairway mounted into more shadow." Another example of imagery in the story is when the author used it to describe Emily when she ask for poison to the druggist."still a slight woman, though thinner than usual, with cold, haughty black eyes in a face the flesh of which was strained across the temples and about the eyes ockets as you imagine a lighthouse–keepers face ought to look". The author makes emphasis in Emily's face and eyes meaning that she is lost in her own world and foreshadows that Emily would use the poison for something wrong. Additionally, another literary device used in theshort story is symbolism. In the story symbolism is something essential. An example of symbolism in the story is in the title "a rose." Roses are usually related to love. In the story, the rose represents the love of Emily to Homer. "Presently we Get more content

A Rose For Emily Essay

William Faulkner is known for his Southern Gothic style of writing. One of his short stories "A Rose for Emily" is about a girl who kills that guy that she loves to be with him. Emily killed him by using Arsenic. Even though the story may be a little weird, it is one of my favorite stories by William Faulkner. The first time I read "A Rose for Emily" I became intrigued about arsenic. The German alchemist, Albertus Magnus from the 13th century, is the man who is known for first identifying Arsenic. Being number 33 on the periodic table, arsenic falls inside the metalloid line because of its characteristics. According to the Green Facts website "Arsenic is a naturally occurring element that can be found in the Earth crust." (Arsenic n.d.) It

A Rose for Emily

Literary Analysis for "A Rose for Emily"

Sometimes a Rose is Not a Rose: A Literary Analysis of "A Rose for Emily"

In the short story "A Rose for Emily", written by William Faulkner, the negative impact of Emily's upbringing by an overprotective father, leads to incredible pattern in her life and the obvious mental illness that takes over as she not so graciously ages. While written in five sections, the first and last section is written in present time, and the three middle sections in past tense. To set the stage for Emily's drastic transformation from young girl to elderly woman, Faulkner uses characterization, setting and narration to show Emily's lost state of mind and her desire to find and keep love at all cost as....show more content...

The setting of the story takes place in Faulkner's make believe city of Yoknapatawpha, Mississippi. In a house that was once owned by the late Elder Grierson. When the townspeople finally enter the room upstairs that "no one had seen in forty years" (Faulkner, Section 5), they are stunned by the condition of Emily's once grandeur house. Furthermore, the house that once set on the "most select street" (Faulkner, Section 1) was now surrounded by garages, cotton gins and was the only house left on the street. Although, once described as "a big, squarish frame house that had once been white, decorated with cupolas and spires and scrolled balconies" (Harris), it is apparent that along with the family name, the family home had been on a downward spiral for many years. Although the story is told in first person, the narrator of the story is never named but it appears that the story could be told by any of the townspeople. It has been said that the narrators "function is to be a window pane or mirror upon the life of Miss Emily Grierson" (Sullivan). The narrator often uses a negative attitude toward both women and the African American race, furthermore making many statements in theshort story that would not be acceptable in our society today. From "the female blacks in this town are not allowed out on the streets without aprons" (Faulkner, Section 1) to "it's probably just a snake or rat

Rose For Emily

"A Rose for Emily" is the most famous short story by the american author William Faulkner and was published in 1930. The story deals with the major themes of death, decay and change. The story is divided into five seperate sections. In the first section, the death of Miss Elliot is announced. Miss Elliot, is deeply admired by her community, and is described as a "fallen monument" or a "duty". The description as a monument, however in strong contrast to the truth about Miss Elliot. She has kept her lovers rotting corpse in her house and has slept next to it for a long time. The title of the story makes it clear that the narrator sees his story as a final homage to Emily, as a kind of rose that he puts on her coffin. Due to the many time

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Symbolism in A Rose for Emily Essay

Symbolism in literature is using an object to portray a different, deeper meaning in a story. Symbols represent ideas or qualities that the author has maneuvered into his or her story that has meaning. There can be multiple symbols in a story or just one. It is up to the reader to interpret the meaning of the symbols and their significance to the story. While reading a story, symbols may not become clear until the very end, once the climax is over, and the falling action is covered. In William Faulkner's, "A Rose for Emily," there are multiple examples of symbolism that occur throughout the story. Symbolism that "A Rose for Emily" displays is Miss Emily's taxes that represent death. First is the death of her father. The taxes are a...show more content...

The lime that is sprinkled around Miss Emily's house is another symbol in the story. Lime is a white powder that is used to cover the smell of decomposing bodies. The townspeople go to Miss Emily's house to sprinkle lime in her yard when there is complaint about the awful smell emanating from her house. The smell of Homer's rotting corpse eventually stops permeating into the streets, but it is thought that the smell may have become normal to the town. The lime symbolizes a weary attempt to hide information. It is a cover up that symbolizes how the town hides the secrets in that generation (Shmoop 5). Arsenic is a symbol of hiding something that smells, just like lime. When arsenic is used to kill a rat, it creates a stench. The arsenic that Miss Emily uses on Homer Barron's body creates a smell that the townspeople want to get rid of with lime. On Miss Emily's package, the cashier writes "For rats." "Faulkner himself claims that Homer was probably not a nice guy. If Homer is planning to break a promise to marry Emily... she probably considers him a rat" (Shmoop 5). This information leads us to believe that Faulkner approves of the poisoning of Homer Barron (Shmoop 5). In the story, there is no mention of an actual rose, yet the story title is "A Rose for Emily." Another symbol is the rose. In the article, "Symbolism," the author states he or she believes that the title reflects what Faulkner thinks

The most important thing in the story "A Rose for Emily" written by William Faulkner is the symbolic. Emily Grierson grows up in the environment that lacks of society and courtship because of her father. Emily's life is symbolic of lacking communicate, fear of death. And Emily's home is the symbolic of her past as well. Emily Grierson has grown up in a single family, and always be protected by her father, maids, and servants. Her father is really being strict to Emily since she is a little, and even in the picture background that her father is holding a whip in one hand. "Mr. Grierson's arrogance thwarts Emily's chances formarriage, and economic reality has no bearing upon his demeanor" (Volpe 101). Mr. Grierson's mind is in the "antebellum world". "The value of 'antebellum' society continue to exert a very powerful influence upon the community in spite of Appomattox, governing its attitudes toward blacks and toward...show more content...

Symbolic uses the most in the story like the house, lacking of communication, and fear of death. Those symbolic reflects Emily's life, how she reacts when she loose someone that important to her. She also refuses to accept the passing of time or changing to a new generation. Her life is being strict from her father; she is not allowed to talk to men. Because of her father, she decides not to open up herself to the anyone in the town. Her house now becomes a shell that protects her from being hurt. That is also a reason why Emily murders her lover when he refuses to marry her; she does not want him to leave even when he dies. Moreover, the house is a place that Emily's father die, and later on is a death of her lover. Their death pushes her into the insane. She cuts off the connection with her community and live with her own world creation. In conclusion, William Faulkner is achieved to describe Emily's life by using the

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In William Faulkner's short story "A Rose for Emily" the story of an eccentric southern aristocrat from the view of the community she lives in. the story opens with the death of the main character, Miss Emily Grierson. Faulkner described Miss Emily's life circumstances through a series of flash backs. Faulkner explains his story is an example of a person having their hopes and aspirations for their life dashed over time, and only later to realize how through poor decision making, they have broken every value and belief they hold, then proceeding to punish themselves indefinitely.

Brooks and Warren begin by approaching the story from the psychological mindset of Miss Emily. They point out without finding the meaning behind Miss Emily's actions, the story is merely a story of abnormal psychology. By being able to understand where the motives came from for Miss Emily's actions the reader is much more able to see that Miss Emily was not just a mentally disturbed individual with no real cause for her condition. The idea that Miss Emily refuses to submit to the group mentality of...show more content...

Fetterley contends that the story is that of a male dominated past and future, and a woman who is oppressed and victimized by her society systems. In life, Miss Emily's father had been able to keep her as a possession and control her life. In his death, the community of Jefferson stepped into that role. Miss Emily was more considered as an object than a person to most everyone her entire life. Fetterley points out the real wrong done to Miss Emily was in making her a "Miss". In the act of making Emily a lady certain characteristics and beliefs are immediately associated with Miss Emily. It is these beliefs of what a lady is and does that allows Miss Emily to murder Homer with poison bought at the drug store without so much as a raised eyebrow. The thought of a lady committing murder never crosses the community's

How Is A Rose For Emily Feminist Criticism

"A Rose for Emily" through the Lens of Feminist Literary Criticism

A Rose for Emily is a short story written by William Faulkner. Its plot focuses on Emily Grierson, a representative of the family of previously rich Southern aristocrats. The woman obviously had inherited mental problems, which resulted in the murder of Homer Barron, Emily's first and only mentioned potential bridegroom. After the crime she turned into a complete anchoret and spent many decades in the house with Barron's body. There were many factors that contributed to the tragic fate of Emily Grierson. Besides obvious class–specific and psychiatric issues, the list includes the perception of gender roles in the society of the time. Women played second fiddle despite their...show more content...

Faulkner cannot be criticized for the creation of a bad vision of women in the case of Emily Grierson. The character was a victim of circumstances, where the gender issue was only one of several factors. But it played its role in tragic events. From the lens of feminist theory, the major problem of the story was the fact people believed women cannot deal with their problems (even personal) by themselves. As Faulkner focused on Miss Emily, it is hard to claim, if this attitude was limited by female representatives of noble families. But it is possible to suggest women of all social classes were closely watched by moral crusaders. Forcing women to follow customs, like marrying before thirty, they simultaneously disrupted their attempts by additional requirements. It could be the social status, like in the case of Miss Emily, or any other feature. But the result was the same: the community felt sorry for woman, who could not satisfy its requirements, despite the fact the society made it impossible or too difficult by itself. Miss Emily's actions were extreme, but they reflected a strong pressure a woman could feel in such

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William Faulkner's "A Rose for Emily" Literary Analysis In William Faulkner's story "A Rose for Emily" his main character Miss Emily Grierson's deranged behavior leaves the reader questioning her mental status. Emily comes from a family with high expectations of her a sort of "hereditary obligation" (30). Emily has been mentally manipulated by her as so indicated in the line of the story "we did not say she was crazy then we believed she had to do that we remember all the young men her father had driven away" (32). There is already proof of mental illness in the family "remembering how old lady Wyatt, her great aunt, had gone completely crazy last" (32). The first indication the narrator gives us of Miss Emily's...show more content...

During the conversation Miss Emily tells the men "See Colonel Sartoris. I have no taxes in Jefferson" (31). Colonel Sartoris has been dead for almost ten years. Emily's behavior not only shows mental instability but also that she may be delusional and confused. "She was sick for a long time. When we saw her again, her hair was cut short making her look like a girl" (32). Through this image the narrator portrays Emily regressing back to her youth. It is at this point that Miss Emily is being seen around town with a young contractor named Homer Barron. Emily's behavior takes another dramatic strange twist when she visits the druggist and requests some poison. The druggist asked Miss Emily "What kind? For rats and such?" (33). to which Emily responds "I want the best one you have. I don't care what kind" (33). It is at this point that we truly begin to question if Miss Emily has foul intentions. "She will kill herself" "She will marry him" "She will persuade him yet" (33). These statements were made in regard to Miss Emily's relationship with Homer Barron. Homer himself had stated that he liked men, he was known to drink with the younger men in the Elks Club, and that he was not a marrying man. In light of Homers feelings toward marriage Emily had been seen in town at the jewelers purchasing a men's toilet set in silver with the letters H.B. on each

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William Faulkner

In the story " A Rose for Emily", by William Faulkner the narrator introduces the reader to Emily Grierson, a sheltered southern woman who while alive struggled immensely with her sanity and the evolving world around her. Emily's father, a very prestigious man is the cause of Emily's senseless behavior. He kept her secluded from the rest of the town "We remembered all the young men her father had driven away..." (Page 3.) If Emily had been allowed to date and socialize with people her own age would she had turned out differently. Emily Grierson, the only remaining member of the upper class Grierson family refuses to leave the past behind her even as the next generation begins to take over. Miss Emily becomes so caught up in the way...show more content...

Or were the Grierson's so powerful that they convinced the Colonel to leave Emily be? The only relationships Emily ever had during her sheltered life were with men, which is quite ironic considering the fact that her father forbid males from having any contact with his precious daughter. There was Tobe her Negro servant, Homer the man she was to marry, and of course her father. Miss Emily and Tobe seemed to have a personal relationship it was deeper than him just being her servant. Every one else referred to him as " That Nigger" and the narrator of the story simply called him " The Negro". When Miss Emily calls Tobe by his first name it proves that she has a sense of respect for him, he is also the only person(other than Homer) allowed in and out of her home after her father's death. Tobe proved his loyalty by keeping her darkest secrets ( The murder of Homer. It was obvious that he knew Homer was locked away in the upper half of the house because the day of the funeral he exited out the back door and was never seen again. Tobe knew what they were going to find when the people of Jefferson entered the bedroom) and remaining by Miss Emily's side until the very end. Miss Emily's father was the main reason behind her being secluded from the rest of the town. He felt as if no man would ever be good enough for

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