Symbolism In William Faulkner's A Rose For Emily

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“A Rose for Emily”
William Faulkner’s “A Rose for Emily” illustrates the struggle that comes from trying to maintain tradition in a world that is always expanding and changing its views on everything (SparkNotes Editors). The city of Jefferson, the setting, is at a crossroads of moving towards a modern future much different from the archaic views from before the Civil War. Emily’s house is the last relic of the dying world of Southern aristocracy. She and her home are still lingering in the past and unwilling to change with the community it is in. Through flashback, symbolism, and allusion, Faulkner is able to show Emily as she relates to the theme of this short story. During the period of publication, this short story could relate to those still struggling with trying to live post Civil War and go along with the change in times unlike Emily.
Our story is based in the time period after Civil War when the South is trying to rebuild after their way of living is essentially torn down. Gone are the days of slaves which the elder townspeople are so accustomed to. No more plantations thriving under the Southern sun. Through multiple flashbacks, we are introduced into the life of Emily Grierson, our main character. She’s from what use to be an upper class family but after the death of her father, she is the last of the Grierson’s in Jefferson. We learn of Emily’s deteriorating state of mind through different events in her life and even a mention of a relative. Emily had an Aunt Wyatt who "had gone completely crazy at last" which foreshadowed that insanity ran in the family and it was making its way or had already gotten to Emily. Another instance showing Emily’s deteriorating state of mind is the fact that although her father had be...

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...nd she doesn’t want to pay taxes because of her deal with Colonel Sartoris. She is the example of how most Southerners felt about the period after the Civil War. They couldn’t see how to live when their whole way of life had been taken away. In this case, Emily struggled to hold on to familiarity after her father died.
This short story shows how those who don’t learn to go along with the times can live a struggle instead of just going with the flow. In this case, Emily couldn’t bring herself to move forward in life and in essence lived in a flashback. Even the room she had laid out with the corpse of Homer Barron was at at standstill. Emily wanted to be in control and tried to keep her life at a standstill. This was futile because time was moving and changing around her. The traditions she was so accustomed to were dying out and in turn she died along with them.

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