Literary Analysis of “A Rose for Emily”
“A Rose for Emily” goes on to tell the story of Miss Emily Grierson and her archaic origins. The author, William Faulkner, sets the story in the Southern regions of America, in a fictitious town of Jefferson, Mississippi. Faulkner narrates the story from the perspective of the townsfolk that held the undesirable duty and obligation to Emily Grierson and its’ own troubled legacy. Born within high ranks, Emily had been tolerated, obliged, and as a result unaware of her ability to engage with the world around her and the true sense of accountability for much of her life. At her funeral, the narrator explains how her life was riddled with continuous tragedies, beginning with the death of her father, the closest and only person that cared for her. As the reader, I understand the complexity of emotions that are presented by Faulkner, Emily’s demise begun at the conception of her upbringing.
Emily and her father, only known as Mr. Grierson, were the last of the bourgeoisie of the Antebellum South who firmly believed to preserve its dwindling customs of life. Mr. Grierson held a great deal of control over Emily’s life. In the process of neglecting her of any responsibility, his over-protective nature continued well into her early adulthood, amongst others, refusing to allow her to marry. His death took both an emotional and as well as economical toll on Emily’s livelihood. Having a considerate approach to chivalry Colonel Sartoris, the mayor of Jefferson, settled her taxes as a gesture of charity in the disguise of repayment of a loan owed to her father. This is the reinforcement in her belief of the old world and her proclaimed nobility as the story quotes “Only a man of Colonel Sartoris’ generation and thought could have invented it, and only a woman could have believed it.”
There is a shift in time, within this new age comes drastic changes in ideals, traditions, and demeanors of the townsfolk in Jefferson. A newly elected board of officials began sending tax notices to Emily which nullifying the agreement made by Colonel Sartoris, who has been dead for nearly 10 years. Much of these notices received no response from her as she took on a life of seclusion from the world. Constant grievances of the manner of the estate which had left with little to no maintenance by her only patriarch, an old and impotent black servant named Tobi. Disapproval of the eyesore that became of the once lovely manor and rumors of decaying odors that reside within the property. Many formal complaints were filed with the Alderman calling for immediate action to be taken but even then, Emily faced no consequences, and an alternative was found to remedy the issues. Reluctant to her stubborn ways, a delegation was sent to her for the matters of unpaid taxes. There, they are introduced to the now elderly, and small but heavy-set Emily, who stands adamantly and unyielding on her claim that she has no taxes in Jefferson and are sent on their way.
Throughout her life, Emily had failed to make real connections with the people of Jefferson. She remained unmarried and refused to be courted by the men of the town. The narrator states that “We did not say she was crazy then. We believed she had to do that. 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.” Emily remained alone and isolated in that house for many years. Futile attempts were made by her to assimilate as she taught china- painting to the descendants of her generation but lastly, those efforts were diminished by the changes of the modern world.
The narrator recalls during the summer that something special happened to Emily that she’d never really experienced before. A construction contractor had come to Jefferson to build sidewalks and with them, Homer Barron, a man she had finally set her heart on. He was a Northern, described as being charming and full of life that captivated the entire town. He was something fresh and different in Emily’s life and soon after they had been seen driving through town every Sunday afternoon. There were persistent concerns about their relationship and uncertainty in her well-being. Some had proposed that contact with distant relatives should be made with worry for her. Regardless, Emily kept her dignity and they remained together, but the most pressing concern was about Homer’s sexuality and his commitment to their relationship. Finally, her relatives in Alabama were informed of their union and intervention was to be made to Emily. The two arranged that Homer would leave for three days while her family visited, and he would return shortly, and they would get married officially. Sure enough, things proceed as such but when Homer returned to town, he was never seen again. The narrator accounts that a year in the relationship, Emily had a visit to the local drug store to purchase poison. Though in Jefferson, the intention of purchase for such a peculiar item is required but with everything else, Emily got her way, and it was labeled “For rats.”
Emily was never seen or heard for months, the only visible person leaving the home is Tobi for the occasional grocery run. Soon after, the eventual news of her death is spread throughout Jefferson. Everyone had come to spectate of what remained of the relic that they had grown to accommodate for so many years. Men came for the sense of their pride and duty, women for the sheer sense of curiosity. After the funeral, preparations were made to explore the upper rooms of the house and they discovered the tomb of Homer Barron and indications that it is where Emily had spent her time.
The tale is very grim, but there is a presumption of understanding and compassion for the life of Emily Grierson. Unable to face the reality of change and proper death of the men that she loved dearly caused tremendous distress and damage to her psyche that left in her prolonged state of isolation and sorrow.
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