“A Rose for Emily” by William Faulkner a Literary Analysis
In the short story of William Faulkner, “A Rose for Emily,” William uses symbols, character development settings, and other literary devices to talk about the life of Emily and also the behavior of people of Jefferson toward her. When reading this story; the audience learns about the history of Miss Emily as much as Jefferson’s City stranger would learn nearly her past; the story reveals that Miss Emily has passed away, and people living in the town having bad rumor and extraordinary life. The events that William talks about are related thematically to the story.
The title of the narrative serves as the first hint of symbolism in the short story. A rose is usually used to show love. The case in the story by Homer it means respect for Emily. The father of Emily was a man who was extremely good to his daughter. Use this situation, Emily only experienced love when she met Homer. A rose as well as symbolizes silence. Interpretation is made where Homer was as well a rose to Emily (Faulkner, pp. 189). Homer was highly cherished and loved by Emily. Many women usually dry roses to keep them forever. Emily was understood to be distorted and out of mind; hence, she wanted to maintain Homer indefinitely.
The home, shared by Emily and her father, which she eventually inherits, is symbolic in her innermost condition. The story opens where the house is fresh and had vibrant walls painted white and clean. Miss Emily, as well as bright and vibrant in the youth stage whom she was pure. Her father protected her purity by turning away all men whom he thinks they do not measure up the standards of Emily. Emily is as pure as the white color on the wall. The house becomes dirty as the story progresses, foul and smelly. Now, Emily has grown older, and her good spirits have deranged. Not only will she kill her fiancée, but she will sleep with her corpse, she will fall gradually into folly. The hair is symbolic of Emily’s sexuality, all along with the story. After her father’s death, she cuts the hair short and looks like a young girl at the time of her 30’s. It is symbolic in girls since her father robbed her of marriage chances, and shows that she is sexually immature.
The criticism starts in the early twentieth century, where American became more industrialized and was called the New South. “Conlon Sartoris was trying not to embarrass Miss. Emily and comes up with an elaborate description of Jefferson’s pre-Civil War dues to the Griersons, but also this man, also, had created a law that any African American Woman who was found on the streets of Jefferson not wearing an apron would be beaten.” (Dobie, pp.205) To not seem as if the townspeople are giving Miss. Emily charity, all the families of Jefferson, send their young girls to Miss Emily for the lessons of Chinese painting. A significant change in
Jefferson’s attitude towards Miss Emily’s relationship with Homer as a working man who was from the North. “Faulkner The town people, then, at first did not approve of the relationship between the couple, but then slowly started to like Homers as a good choice for Miss Emily, and was a necessity, and so the students had to decide whether “a Rose for Emily” is the go thesis, a tragic story or an inequitable story of love (Faulkner, pp. 186).”And the townspeople, on their own, did not approve the relationship of their couple at first.
In conclusion, the central symbolism passes through Emily A Rose. The subject of analogy is the importance of leaving behind the past. Miss Emily is not keen to be self-sufficient, so she is clinging back to her past. The old South is the latest for her.
Works cited.
Faulkner, William, John Carradine, and Anjelica Huston. A rose for Emily. Paderborn, De: Verlag F. Schöningh, 2012 pg 180-190.
Dobie, Ann B. Theory into practice: An introduction to literary criticism. Cengage learning, 2011 pg 201-206