Research Paper The short story “A Rose for Emily” by William Faulkner is about the life of Miss Emily Grierson. Emily is a mysterious character who evolves from a lively and optimistic young girl to a secluded and secretive old woman. Throughout the story many other characters are introduced and assist with the stories progression and conveyance of Miss Emily. Many who have read this tale have given many different opinions about Miss Emily. Many say she is a twisted and demented old woman and others believe her to be a true tragic hero. Throughout the story, Faulkner uses characters such as Tobe, Mr. Grierson, Homer, the narrator, the town’s people, and even Miss Emily herself to make a truly haunting story. Tobe is the servant and caregiver As the story begins with the sense of power it also ends with it. At the end when the narrator is talking about the iron gray hair on the pillow, though it signified her necrophilia, it could also interpret that over the years of her aging she became hardened. Emily is a girl who lost her way and to womanhood lost her grip on reality. “A Rose for Emily” is a very effective story not only because of its complex series of events but also because of its difference use of the narrator. Many critics falsely consider the narrator as a speaker for the entire town, most likely a young man, but in fact the narrator is never identified as a male or female. There are also speculations that say that the narrator is in fact a women. For example as Burduck states “The narrative voice a spokesperson for the town, appears very concerned with every detail of Emily 's life. Faulkner provides us with an important clue concerning the gender of this narrator when he describes the townspeople 's reaction to Emily 's attachment to Homer Barron. Jefferson 's male population seems apathetic regarding Emily 's tryst; the men are not the least bit scandalized. The females in town are so concerned with Emily 's eccentricities that they force their men to act; one very interested female in particular, the narrator, sees to it that Emily 's story is not forgotten”(209). The narrator is better assumed by evaluating the tone and throughout the story seems to have a change in opinion of Miss Emily. Overall the narrator is compassionate to Miss Emily for the narrator never condemns her for her actions. The narrator always seems to respect her ability to use her aristocratic attitude in order to overcome the members of the town and society as well as her aristocratic unfriendliness. An example of this is when she associates
A Rose for Emily Life is fickle and most people will be a victim of circumstance and the times. Some people choose not to let circumstance rule them and, as they say, “time waits for no man”. Faulkner’s Emily did not have the individual confidence, or maybe self-esteem and self-worth, to believe that she could stand alone and succeed at life especially in the face of changing times. She had always been ruled by, and depended on, men to protect, defend and act for her. From her Father, through the manservant Tobe, to Homer Barron, all her life was dependent on men.
Additionally, it is through this stereotype that the town perpetuates Miss Emily as someone with little control. The belief in Miss Emily’s passive personality, appears to be supported through the contrasting behavioral stereotype of “male-dominance” in her father. For instance, while alive, Mr. Grierson governed Miss Emily’s decisions, specifically that of who she would marry, so as to place her “in the background” and consequently, promote Miss Emily in a subservient role (Faulkner 1350). However, in the same way that a stereotype is an oversimplified, unrealistic image, the full depth and truth of Miss Emily’s identity is similarly reduced (OED 1). For instance, despite evidence that Miss Emily is not regimented to the female stereotype, as seen through observations of her hair like that of an “attractive man,” and the fact that she is Head of the Grierson house (a classically male role), while conversely, her male servant, Tobe, does the cooking and cleaning (a classically female position), the town continues to see her as “poor Emily,” someone weak and meant to pity (Faulkner 1352. 1350. 1351). It is not until the end of the text when the murder of Homer Baron is revealed, that the town becomes aware of Miss Emily’s true propensity to control and are forced to re-contextualize their understanding of her (Faulkner 1353). Likewise, by continuing to see Miss Emily through the impressions projected by her father, rather than the elements of contradiction provided, the town solidifies self-deception so as to be inadvertently
Faulkner tells the story through primarily a first person narration, primarily through the eyes of the townspeople, which is a white southern society. They too have a type of love affair with "Miss Emily." Emily Grierson is known to the townspeople as an icon. They feel a sense of obligation to her, as the narrator explains, "Alive, Miss Emily has been a tradition, a duty, and a care; sort of hereditary obligation upon the town" (404). The relationship between the town and Emily is symbiotic, in the respects that neither can exist without the other, this in turn, makes the narrator and Emily foils.
Emily Grierson, referred to as Miss Emily throughout the story, is the main character of 'A Rose for Emily,' written by William Faulkner. Emily is born to a proud, aristocratic family sometime during the Civil War; Miss Emily used to live with her father and servants, in a big decorated house. The Grierson Family considers themselves superior than other people of the town. According to Miss Emily's father none of the young boys were suitable for Miss Emily. Due to this attitude of Miss Emily's father, Miss Emily was not able to develop any real relationship with anyone else, but it was like her world revolved around her father.
“A Rose for Emily” William Faulkner takes us back in time with his Gothic short story known as, “A Rose for Emily.” Almost every sentence gives a new piece of evidence to lead the reader to the overall theme of death, isolation, and trying to maintain traditions. The reader can conclude the theme through William Faulkner’s use of literary devices such as his choice of characters, the setting, the diction, the tone, and the plot line. William Faulkner introduces us to a number of characters but the most involved being Emily Grierson, Homer Barron, Tobe, and the ladies of the town; who are not named individually. Emily Grierson was once a beautiful and wealthy upper class young women who lived with her father, who has since died, on the towns,
In “ A Rose for Emily”, William Faulkner tells the complex tale of a woman who is battered by time and unable to move through life after the loss of each significant male figure in her life. Unlike Disney Stories, there is no prince charming to rescue fallen princess, and her assumed misery becomes the subject of everyone in the town of Jefferson, Mississippi. As the townspeople gossip about her and develop various scenarios to account for her behaviors and the unknown details of her life, Emily Grierson serves as a scapegoat for the lower classes to validate their lives. In telling this story, Faulkner decides to take an unusual approach; he utilizes a narrator to convey the details of a first-person tale, by examining chronology, the role of the narrator and the interpretations of “A Rose for Emily”, it can be seen that this story is impossible to tell without a narrator.
William Faulkner's short story, "A Rose for Emily" is often held as a literary classic due to Faulkner?s ability to play with our mind and emotions almost to the point of frustration. However, there is much more than mind games that Faulkner plays that makes this story great. Emily Grierson, the main character, is a strong-willed stubborn old bitty, who was quite odd, this alone is a reason for greatness. To fully understand why Emily is the way that she is one must look past the obvious and truly look at Emily. Emily Grierson has a mental condition that is just itching to be discovered.
By using strong characterization and dramatic imagery, William Faulkner introduces us to Miss Emily Grierson in “A Rose for Emily”. The product of a well-established, but now fallen family, Emily plays common role found in literature- a societal outcast, who earns her banishment from society through her eclectic behavior and solitary background. Often living in denial and refusing to engage with others, Emily responds to her exile by spending the remainder of her life as a mysterious recluse that the rest of society is more content to ignore rather than break social customs to confront her. Emily’s role as an outcast mirrors a major theme of the story, that denial is a powerful tool in hiding a secret, however, the truth will eventually emerge. The mystery surrounding Emily’s character and the story’s memorable imagery creates a haunting tale that lingers with the reader.
William Faulkner’s short story “A Rose for Emily” displays themes of alienation and isolation. Emily Grierson’s own father is found to be the root of many of her problems. Faulkner writes Emily’s character as one who is isolated from the people of her town. Her isolation from society and alienation from love is what ultimately drives her to madness.
In “A Rose for Emily”, by William Faulkner, Emily Geierson is a woman that faces many difficulties throughout her lifetime. Emily Geierson was once a cheerful and bright lady who turned mysterious and dark through a serious of tragic events. The lost of the two men, whom she loved, left Emily devastated and in denial. Faulkner used these difficulties to define Emily’s fascinating character that is revealed throughout the short story. William Faulkner uses characterization in “A Rose for Emily”, to illustrate Miss Emily as a stubborn, overly attached, and introverted woman.
In Faulkner’s tale “A Rose for Emily” there are many historical elements throughout the story; Faulkner uses them to give an authentic feel to the story and to add to the setting. A recurring theme that I found was reference to the reconstruction of the South after the Civil War. The setting of the South after their demise in the Civil War adds character to the story and to the characters. The attitudes people had and the way people treated Emily with respect was a tradition of the “Old South” that is presented throughout this tale.
All in all, the story of “A Rose for Emily” by William Faulkner represents a chilling and twisted story of a woman who used every option, even murder, to keep her state of happiness. Faulkner cleverly uses symbols, characters, and theme to fully illustrate the twisted mind of Emily Grierson and the communities never ending struggle between incorporating modern rules and keeping traditional values.
William Faulkner's, "A Rose for Emily," is a short story that is narrated by an anonymous character to be considered as the voice of the home town and tells the story out of order. The story is based on the life of Emily Grierson and how it connects with the South after the Civil War. There are many parts in the story that show symbolism in varieties of ways. Some of these symbols include Emily's house, her hair, her clothing, and even the "rose" that is brought in the story. Symbolism is shown throughout many different ways through all forms of literature. It is mainly shown through the main theme as well as the smaller themes that are throughout the story. Symbolism is used to represent ideas or qualities through the use of symbols.
The narrator is vague about the intricate details of her life, perhaps because he presents her story as a member of the town, which means he is only able to narrate it from an observational point of view as opposed to an interactive point of view. “‘A Rose for Emily’ is told from a community point of view, so that the narrative voice in the story is the voice of “our town” and “we,” a group .” (Skei, 150). Certain representations of social expectations can be gleaned from parts of the text. This is especially the case when it comes to gender relations and family. William Faulkner’s short story shows how the nineteenth century was set in certain limiting social expectations especially for women, especially
In the short story “A Rose for Emily” written by William Faulkner, Emily, the protagonist, is shown as someone who’s life is falling apart and brought down by society. Emily in this story could be described as a victim to society and her father. Emily Grierson’s confinement, loss of her father and Homer, and constant criticism caused her, her insanity.