In William Faulkner's short story "A Rose for Emily," Emily Grierson refuses to accept changes in her life. When her father dies, she denies his death for three days. As the town changes around her, adopting new customs of the post-Civil War New South, Emily isolates herself in her decaying mansion and refuses to pay taxes or accept other changes. She ultimately controls change by murdering her lover Homer Barron when it seems he may introduce more changes to her life. Emily is stuck in the traditions of the Old South and unable to accept or adapt to new realities.

1. Argumentative Essay On A Rose For Emily
"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's death. 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
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2. Thesis For A Rose For Emily
A Rose for Emily
ESSAY
What makes someone to live an isolated and antisocial lifestyle? What are the causes? What are the
reasons that people are in the edge of madness when a great life with many opportunities are in front
of them?
We are able to find some possible answers in the writing A Rose for Emily by William Faulkner.
The composition includes five parts that tell us short episodes about Emily Grierson's life and if
we can read between the lines, perhaps we get answers and explanations, how could the outside
facts, like her father's influence, manipulate the decisions, ideology and the life of a people. This
essay will explain the role of Mr. Grierson in her daughter, Emily's life.
The very beinning of the story is extraordinary. It begins with the burial of Emily, the residents
around her coffin did not feel anything, most of them were curious. There were neither friends nor
relatives, nobody who was in mouring for her, only inquirers. The readers can ask, what kind of
person was Miss Emily? Why the others did not feel sadness? Perhaps there is a bigger question:
what was the reason that nobody went to her house more than ten years (except her slave, Tobe).
...show more content...
She lived in an aristocratic family. The american civil war of the second half of 19th century
between North and South was a very important part of the Grierson family. They belonged to South,
and though salvery was cancelled, they kept their own black slave, Tobe, who actually was not an
important character in the story, but he was the only person next to Miss
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3. A Rose for Emily Essay
"A Rose for Emily" is a wonderful short story written by William Faulkner. It begins with at the
end of Miss Emily's life and told from an unknown person who most probably would be the voice
of the town. Emily Grierson is a protagonist in this story and the life of her used as an allegory
about the changes of a South town in Jefferson after the civil war, early 1900's. Beginning from
the title, William Faulkner uses symbolism such as house, Miss Emily as a "monument ", her hair,
Homer Barron, and even Emily's "rose" to expresses the passing of time and the changes. The
central theme of the story is decay in the town, the house, and in Miss Emily herself. It shows the
way in which we all grow old and decay and there is nothing permanent...show more content...
Furthermore, Miss Emily's hair is one of the symbols, shortly after her father's death Emily cuts
her hair that could possibly symbolize the freedom for her as breaking away from her father's control
"When we saw her again, her hair was cut short, making her look like a girl..." (212). Also, as Emily
grows older her hair changes into "iron–gray, like the hair of an active man" (214). That hair colour
changing symbolizes the time, we realize time first by Emily's hair, and then her hair has turned "a
vigorous iron–gray" (214) when she disappears into her house. In Faulkner's story Homer Barron
obviously represents the present, the formation, and the new ways. When he arrives to the town for
the construction Emily was already around 30–34 years old, well past her time according to that
time and he was the next generation. Also, probably he might be her future life. Homer Barron
was Northerner "...a Yankee..." (212) and north is known as its easy adaptation for changes but
South is known for traditional. He does not seem to a man who like to settle in one place as
Emily was. Besides the story's other symbols, the "rose" itself is the most important symbol and
the title of the story is not coincidence. It is not suggest just a rose flower, but rather a symbol of
the Homer and the father's love for her, town's love and admiration for her, and also foreshadows
her eventual destruction. The rose in the title symbolizes the absent of love which is a
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4. Allegory In A Rose For Emily
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 this short 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 commit suicide. 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
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5. A Rose for Emily
A Rose for Emily Essay
Title: The Jealous Townspeople
I. Thesis Statement: A Rose for Emily is a story of the envy harbored by the citizens in reaction to
Miss Emily's pride, reclusiveness, and heritage.
II. A. Topic Sentence: Miss Emily's heritage is the first and most important reason the town's people
were desirous of her.
1. Supporting Sentence: Miss Grierson was born into a prominent family the residents of her town
recognized as being an old and distinguished family. 2. Supporting Sentence: In section one of the
story, the people who lived among Emily described her as, "a hereditary obligation upon the town."
3. Supporting Sentence: When Mr. Grierson died the town's people felt as though she had...show
more content...
Emily's family was well known to everyone in that area. At one point in time, the Grierson family
may have been wealthy. The families past wealth and illustrious heritage would be enviable to
anyone who grew up less than rich or with odd family members. The fact that people wanted to
have a family like that of Miss Emily's served as a foundation for the jealousy of the people who
lived near her. In section one of the story, the town's people described Miss Grierson as a
hereditary obligation. The description of Miss Emily as a hereditary obligation can be perceived
in two different ways. The first suggested meaning of the phrase could be that since The Grierson
Family had been so distinguished in the past, people pay respect to Emily out of reverence for her
family. The second suggested meaning of the phrase could be that the people of the town, where our
main character lived, seen Emily as an obligation because of the taxes that she did not pay. The use
of hereditary in the second suggested meaning alludes to the fact that until Emily passed away;
each surviving generation would have to support her in a way, because she failed to pay her taxes.
The last example of how our main character's heritage created feelings of envy among the residents
in her town is the statement made after Mr. Grierson's death. When Mr. Grierson passed away, the
narrator of our story recalls that Emily seemed "humanized", and relished the fact that she would
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6. A Rose For Emily Essay
Published in 1931, "A Rose for Emily", is a short story written by William Faulkner. The story is
set around 1894 in the Southern part of the United States. This story describes the life of Miss
Emily Grierson. When the mayor had brought Miss Emily taxes, she told them that she had no
taxes in Jefferson. Then the story changes to thirty years before when the townspeople were trying
to tell Miss Emily about the smell of her house. Then she had gotten sick, and wasn't seen for a
long time, until she was seen with Homer Barron. Eventually, Homer Barron was never seen again,
and neither was Miss Emily except inside her house windows. When Miss Emily died they went
into her house and found a body that had been there for sometime. This story is...show more content...
One of the first symbols that is seen in the story is the invisible watch that is talked about on page
thirty. The watch that Miss Emily wears to the meeting with the town officials symbolises how she
does not want change, or time to pass. Another symbol shown in this story is Miss Emily's house.
Her house continues to stay the same during all the reconstruction that is going on in the South.
This is shown in the story, "When the town got free postal delivery, Miss Emily alone refused to let
them fasten the metal numbers above her door and attach a mailbox to it"(35, 9th edition). This
event, and the house alone symbolises again how Miss Emily resented change, and tried her best to
not realize what was changing around her. Another symbol found in the story is the colors that the
author adds. One color that is a symbol is found at the end of the story. On page thirty–six, it
explains how the townspeople went into Miss Emily's house and broke the door down of the
room that no one had seen in forty years. When they broke the door down the colors of the walls
were rose, and inside the room they found a man's body. The color of the room being rose
symbolizes love, and the love Miss Emily had for Homer. While the symbols in "A Rose for
Emily" are one reason that this story is the best, so are the themes that can be
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7. Rose For Emily
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
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8. Essay A Rose for Emily
A Rose for Emily In "A Rose for Emily," William Faulkner's symbolic use of the "rose" is essential
to the story's theme of Miss Emily's self–isolation. The rose is often a symbol of love, and portrays
an everlasting beauty. The rose has been used for centuries to illustrate an everlasting type of love
and faithfulness. Even when a rose dies, it is still held in high regard. Miss Emily's "rose" exists
only within the story's title. Faulkner leaves the reader to interpret the rose's symbolic meaning.
Miss Emily was denied the possibility of falling in love in her youth, so subsequently she isolated
herself from the world and denied the existence of change. Miss Emily was denied her "rose", first
by her father, then by the...show more content...
Miss Emily's first rose could have been her father, but he wasn't.
"We remembered all the young men her father had driven away, and we knew that with nothing
left, she would have to cling to that which had robbed her, as people will. "Miss Emily met them
at the door, dressed as usual and with no trace of grief on her face. She told them that her father
was not dead. She did that for three days." While the corpse of her father remained in the house
for three days while Miss Emily refused to accept the her father was dead and that she was now
"left alone and a pauper," she had no idea what to do now that she was alone. She did not know
how to accept the fact that she could now make her own decisions. "So when she got to be thirty
and was still single, we were not pleased exactly but vindicated; even with insanity in the family she
wouldn't have turned down all of her chances if they had really materialized."
The townspeople knew that Miss Emily's chances of a semblance of a "normal" life dwindled
each day. They assumed because of Miss Emily's social status, and her age that she would be a
spinster, and expected her to act as such. They were appalled when Homer Barron arrived, and he
and Miss Emily were seen together in town. They even contacted out of town relatives to come and
talk some "sense" into Miss Emily. They could not accept that Emily may be coming into
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9. "A Rose for Emily" Essay examples
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
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10. A rose for Emily evaluation Analysis
A rose for Emily evaluation Analysis English composition II Professor Polnac The short story A
Rose for Emily is the tale about Emily Grierson and the time leading to her death. Emily was
raised by her father to have a sense of class and expectation to be treated as such. Emily grew up
in an era where black women were not allowed to be on the street without aprons, this was set into
motion by her father. Her house was on one of the nicer streets in the town and was kept well.
Emily was raised by her controlling father who never thought any suitor for his girl was good
enough. He had made arrangements when Emily was a child that he should never have to pay
taxes. This was indicative of the power her family once reveled in....show more content...
The new suitor, Homer, begins to drive Emily around and show her attention. The townspeople
were happy thinking that poor Emily would marry Homer but when she did not they viewed it as
inappropriate. Homer disappears from the story soon after there was talk that Emily wanted to be
wed. Years pass, Emily dies at the age of seventy–four. At this time people are invited into her home
for the first time in forty years. Upon entering the house the guests are elated to have a chance to
see the room Emily had sealed up years ago. In the room they find Homer's body laid on the bed,
a suit for a wedding laid out, and indent in the pillow next to his dead body were it is believed
Emily slept. The main character of this story is Emily Grierson. The author does a good job of
introducing her to the story noting in the first sentence, "When Miss Emily Grierson died, our
whole town went to her funeral..." (Bohner 404). From the beginning the reader gets a sense of
interest in Emily and that she was played an important role in her town. Emily's character as
described by the narrator is very consistent. She was raised as a person of wealth who was
sheltered from the outside world. Emily seems to have a lack of finesse when dealing with other
people finesse, a person of wealth and class should have. Emily's character was strong yet weak at
the same time and the narrator notes this in her altercation with the druggist. "She carried her head
high enough–even
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11. A Rose for Emily: Literary Analysis Essay
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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12. Essay about A Rose For Emily by 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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13. 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
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14. Essay about A Rose for Emily
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
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15. 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 the short 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
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16. Essay about A Rose For Emily
Plot summary "A Rose for Emily" is a short story divided into five sections: Section one opens
with a description of the Grierson home and its setting in Jefferson. The narrator mentions that over
the past 25 years Miss Emily's home has fallen into despair and become "an eyesore among
eyesores." The first sentence of the story sets the tone of how the citizens of Jefferson felt about
Emily: "When Miss Emily Grierson died, our whole town went to the funeral: the men through a sort
of respectful affection for a fallen monument, the women mostly out of curiosity to see the inside of
her house, which no one save an old manservant–a combined gardener and cook–had seen in at least
ten years." The narrator also discusses the last time that Emily...show more content...
His name was Homer Barron and he was a foreman from the north. He came to Jefferson with a
crew of men to build sidewalks outside the Grierson home. After Emily and Homer had been seen
driving through town several times, Emily went to visit a druggist. When there she asked to buy
some poison, specifically requesting arsenic. The druggist asks her what it is for however she
doesn't respond. (The druggist treated her like a celebrity –– with bias. He didn't ask for her purpose,
therefore, he is also responsible for the event that is to come. When Miss Emily's servant brought
the box to her, it was labeled, "For Rats.") The fourth section opens with the citizens of Jefferson
under the belief that Miss Emily is going to kill herself due to the fact that Homer has not yet
asked her to marry him. The townspeople take it upon themselves to contact some of Miss Emily's
cousins to come and comfort her. Shortly after their arrival, Homer leaves (the narrator tells us this
is because the cousins are even more Grierson–like, or proud, than Miss Emily or her father were)
and when they leave, he returns. The narrator tells us that after Homer comes back to Jefferson
one night, he is never seen again. And it is simply believed that Mr. Grierson's spirit was "too
virulent and too furious to die" and drove him away. Since Homer's disappearance, Emily Grierson
began to age, gain weight and was rarely seen outside of her home. This
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17. 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
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18. Theme Of Allegory In A Rose For Emily
Raymond Carter once said, "It's possible, in a poem or short story, to write about commonplace
things and objects using commonplace but precise language, and to endow those things – a chair, a
window curtain, a fork, a stone, a woman's earring – with immense, even startling power." "A Rose
for Emily", a satire, exposes the life of the Old South and development of the allegory through the
characters. Each representing an allegorical representation of different political aspects within the
South and their loyalty to their tradition. The life of the Old South ended abruptly when Miss
Emily died because she is an allegorical representation of the Old South and her death signifies the
end of it. Miss Emily is metaphorically referred to as a "fallen monument" by the narrator which
reveals the judgmental and distasteful tone that alludes to the importance of tradition; which in this
case is her father who had robbed her free will by driving away all the bachelors to maintain her
honor. Members of the community including the narrator believed Miss Emily had betrayed her
father and them by dating Homer Barron who was a northerner. Her relationship with Homer Barron,
represents reunion of the Confederate States/ Old South with the rest of America/ the North and their
submission the members in the society thought that "grief could not cause a real lady to forget
noblesse oblige" typifies the southerners' reaction to the outcome of the civil war and their
disappointment, they did
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19. Essay On A Rose For Emily
As the dead body laid on the bed, Emily's friends and family they never really understood her. "A
Rose for Emily" was full of emotions some which were depression, and anxiety. All these
emotions in the story make Emily Grierson seem like she is suffering from a mental illness. After
a long and traumatic life lacking love and embrace of a man, it is evident that she is in an
enormous amount of internal pain. The men who were in her life were either dead or they left her.
Emily experienced many life–changing moments in her life. These experiences forcing her to
change and adapt to her new situations also, causing her to make deranged decisions. In William
Faulkner's, "A Rose for Emily" exemplifies a lack of love and loss of important people...show more
content...
It became worse when Emily's father died. By that time, it was too late for a lot of things like
marriage and dating to happen in her life. Emily did not know how to cope with the death of her
father which lead to some demented decisions. Miss Emily changed significantly after her father
died. "When we saw her again, her hair was cut short, making her look like a girl, with a vague
resemblance to those angels in colored church windows––sort of tragic and serene"(Section 3,
Paragraph 1). She was taking the death of the only person important to her very hard. She did not
have anyone to turn to after. Her family was ready for her to die. The town people were scared to
say anything to her. After the death of the most important person in her life, she found herself with
no one to turn to, and her own family wishing for her departure from the world. Shortly after the
death of her father, Homer Barron came from the North and was immediately attracted to Emily.
Homer started to show Emily friendship and compassion. She tried to make Homer the new
important man in her life. Emily's actions were anything but precious. Emily shows how mentally
unstable she is when Homer Barron, a simple northern construction worker, tries to show her basic
friendship Emily mistakes this for something more and takes it to a new level. Emily does not know
how to handle a simple friendship. People knew Homer liked
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20. A Rose for Emily Essay
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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