Analytical Essay On A Rose For Emily

A Rose For Emily: Analytical Paper

A Rose for Emily by William Faulkner is one of Faulkner’s most anthologized stories. Drawing on the tradition of Gothic literature in America, particularly Southern Gothic, the story uses grotesque imagery and first-person-plural narration to explore a culture unable to cope with its own death and decay. The townspeople are attending the funeral of Miss Emily. She is introduced as a stubborn wealthy lady who refuses to pay taxes. More is learned about Miss Emily's life, also her father's death is shown. Throughout the story, A Rose for Emily, the plot, theme, and symbolism are shown in and out through the story.
The type of plot shown throughout the story is a love plot such as unrequited love and disappointed

An example of tradition vs change is when Miss Emily does not accept change well and tries to deny it throughout the story. Another example is the change of death of a loved one is the extremist attempt to avoid change. With the power of death, the people in the story have different coping mechanisms to deal with a loss. Death can also make people do crazy things or act crazy. Some examples of the incredible randomness of life are where Emily had to experience the loss of her father. Another example is where Emily had to experience the loss of her soon to be husband and the fact that he turned out to be gay. Hierarchy is another theme shown throughout the story some examples are where Emily had a reputation to maintain, her family was wealthy and upper class. Emily was always compared to her great aunt and she was judged by her family name. Most men wanted to marry her, but she had high expectations; set too high. Finally, the power of love is another theme that is shown. Examples are, love can make people's decisions unreasonable as if it makes one's judgment hazy. Love can make one think