a rose for emily research paper

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Analysis of William Faulkner’s A Rose for Emily

By NASRULLAH MAMBROL on June 12, 2021

Initially published in Forum on April 30, 1930, and collected in These Thirteen in 1931, “A Rose for Emily” remains one of William Faulkner’s most read, most anthologized, and most significant stories. From every imaginable perspective, critics have scrutinized the components of Faulkner’s literary technique: The story has been viewed as an allegory of southern history, a metaphorical depiction of NorthSouth relationships, feminist nightmare or feminist victory, a gothic horror story, a sociological portrayal of individualism squelched or individualism triumphant, a bleak fictional tale of determinism. Faulkner’s uses of structure, tone, point of view, and imagery play key roles in his depiction of Miss Emily Grierson. The fact that readers and critics still engage in interpretive debates over its meaning merely ensures that it will continue to be read.

Told from the perspective of Jefferson, in Yoknapatawpha County, in a narrative voice that consistently relates the details that “we”—the smug and gossipy townspeople of Jefferson—have observed, the story is intriguing on the level of plot and character alone: Miss Emily has just died, and we learn that she lived alone after her father died and Homer Baron, her Yankee lover, apparently abandoned her. Suspense continues to build when we learn that a mysterious odor emanated from her house at the time that Homer disappeared. Faulkner employs a number of clues to foreshadow both denouement and motivation, including the “tableau” of the imperious father with a horsewhip overshadowing his white-clad young daughter Emily; the portrait of her father that Emily displays at his death, despite his thwarting of her natural youthful desires; her defiant public appearances with the unsuitable Homer Baron; her sense of entitlement; and the arsenic she buys to rid her house of “rats.” Despite these and other devices, however, new generations of readers still react in horror when Emily’s secret is revealed: She not only murdered her lover but slept with his corpse in the attic bridal chamber she carefully prepared.

If Miss Emily is crazy (and most critics agree that she is), Faulkner implies that she has been made so by the constrictions of a father who refused to let her marry and by the conventions of a society that eagerly filled the void at his death. Numerous critics have suggested that behind the gothic horror of necrophilia and insanity in this classic story, Miss Emily Grierson is the oddly modern hero. Indeed, one critic asserts that we cannot understand any of Faulkner’s heroes if we do not understand Miss Emily, for she is the “prototype” of them all (Strindberg 877). As with other troubled Faulknerian protagonists, death literally frees Miss Emily—from patriarchy, from society’s conventions, from sexual repression, from the class structure she was taught to revere, from the useless existence of privileged women of her era, even from the burdens of southern history and slavery: With her death, her black servant, mysteriously complicit in his relation to Miss Emily, walks out of her house at the end of the story. In an interview at the University of Virginia, Faulkner suggested that Miss Emily deserved a rose for all the torment she had endured, and, whatever else they feel, most readers appear to agree with this sentiment.

BIBLIOGRAPHY Blotner, Joseph. Faulkner: A Biography. 2 Vols. New York: Random House, 1974. Rev. ed., New York: Random House, 1984. Carothers, James. Faulkner’s Short Stories. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press, 1985. Faulkner, William. “A Rose for Emily.” In Collected Short Stories. New York: Random House, 1940. Ferguson, James. Faulkner’s Short Fiction. Knoxville: University of Tennessee Press, 1991. Strindberg, Victor. “A Rose for Emily.” In Reader’s Guide to Short Fiction, edited by Noelle Watson, 577. Detroit: St. James Press, 1993.

"A Rose for Emily" By William Faulkner

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Research informing these annotations draws on publicly-accessible resources, with links provided where possible. Annotations have also included common knowledge, defined as information that can be found in multiple reliable sources. If you notice an error in these annotations, please contact [email protected].

Original spelling and capitalization is retained, though the long s has been silently modernized and ligatured forms are not encoded.

Hyphenation has not been retained, except where necessary for the sense of the word.

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Materials have been transcribed from and checked against first editions, where possible. See the Sources section for more information.

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W hen Miss Emily Grierson died, our whole town went to her 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 Negro manservant -- a combined gardener and cook -- had seen in at least ten years.

It was a big, squarish, frame house that had once been white, decorated with cupolas cupolas and spires and scrolled balconies in the heavily lightsome style of the seventies, set on what had once been our most select street. But garages and cotton gins had encroached and obliterated even the august august names of that neighborhood; only Miss Emily's house was left, lifting its stubborn and coquettish coquettish decay above the cotton wagons and the gasoline pumps -- an eyesore among eyesores. And now Miss Emily had gone to join the representatives of those august names where they lay in the cedar-bemused cemetry among the ranked and anonymous graves of Union and Confederate soldiers who fell at the battle of Jefferson.

Alive, Miss Emily had been a tradition, a duty, and a care; a sort of hereditary obligation upon the town, dating from that day in 1894 when Colonel Sartoris, the mayor -- he who fathered the edict edict that no Negro woman should appear on the streets without an apron -- remitted her taxes, the dispensation dating from the death of her father on into perpetuity. Not that Miss Emily would have accepted charity. 234 Colonel Sartoris invented an involved tale to the effect that Miss Emily's father had loaned money to the town, which the town, as a matter of business, preferred this way of repaying. Only a man of Colonel Sartoris' generation and thought could have invented it, and only a woman could have believed it.

When the next generation, with its more modern ideas, became mayors and aldermen, this arrangement created some little dissatisfaction. On the first of the year they mailed her a tax notice. February came, and there was no reply. They wrote her a formal letter, asking her to call at the sheriff's office at her convenience. A week later the mayor wrote her himself, offering to call or to send his car for her, and received in reply a note on paper of an archaic shape, in a thin, flowing calligraphy in faded ink, to the effect that she no longer went out at all. The tax notice was also enclosed, without comment.

They called a special meeting of the Board of Aldermen. A deputation waited upon her, knocked at the door through which no visitor had passed since she ceased giving china-painting lessons eight or ten years earlier. They were admitted by the old Negro into a dim hall from which a stairway mounted into still more shadow. It smelled of dust and disuse -- a close, dank smell. The Negro led them into the parlor. It was furnished in heavy, leather-covered furniture. When the Negro opened the blinds of one window, they could see that the leather was cracked; and when they sat down, a faint dust rose sluggishly around their thighs, spinning with slow motes motes in the single sun-ray. On a tarnished gilt easel before the fireplace stood a crayon portrait of Miss Emily's father.

They rose when she entered -- a small, fat woman in black, with a thin gold chain descending to her waist and vanishing into her belt, leaning on an ebony cane with a tarnished gold head. Her skeleton was small and sparse; perhaps that was why what would have been merely plumpness in another was obesity in her. She looked bloated, like a body long submerged in motionless water, and of that pallid hue. Her eyes lost in the fatty ridges of her face, looked like two small pieces of coal pressed into a lump of dough as they moved from one face to another while the visitors started their errand.

She did not ask them to sit. She just stood in the door and listened quietly until the spokesman came to a stumbling halt. Then they could hear the invisible watch ticking at the end of the gold chain.

Her voice was dry and cold. "I have no taxes in Jefferson. Colonel Sartoris explained it to me. Perhaps one of you can gain access to the city records and satisfy yourselves."

"But we have. We are the city authorities, Miss Emily. Didn't you get a notice from the sheriff, signed by him?"

"I received a paper, yes,"Miss Emily said. "Perhaps he considers himself the sheriff. ... I have no taxes in Jefferson."

"But there is nothing on the books to show that, you see. We must go by the --"

"See Colonel Sartoris. I have no taxes in Jefferson."

"But, Miss Emily --"

"See Colonel Sartoris." (Colonel Sartoris had been dead almost ten years.) "I have no taxes in Jefferson. Tobe!" The Negro appeared. "Show these gentlemen out."

S O SHE vanquished them, horse and foot, just as she had vanquished their fathers thirty years before about the smell. That was two years after her father's death and a short time after her sweetheart -- the one we believed would marry her -- had deserted her. After her father's death she went out very little; after her sweetheart went away, people hardly saw her at all. A few of the ladies had the temerity temerity to call, but were not received, and the only sign of life about the place was the Negro man -- a young man then -- going in and out with a market basket.

"Just as if a man -- any man -- could keep a kitchen properly," the ladies said; so they were not surprised when the smell developed. It was another link between the gross, teeming world and the high and mighty Griersons.

A neighbor, a woman, complained to the mayor, Judge Stevens, eighty years old.

"But what will you have me do about it, madam?" he said.

"Why, send her word to stop it," the woman said. "Isn't there a law?"

"I'm sure that won't be necessary," Judge Stevens said. "It's probably just a snake or a rat that nigger of hers killed in the yard. I'll speak to him about it."

The next day he received two more complaints, one from a man who came in diffident deprecation. "We really must do something about it, Judge. I'd be the last one in the world to bother Miss Emily, but we've got to do something." That night the Board of Aldermen met -- three graybeards and one younger man, a member of the rising generation.

"It's simple enough," he said. "Send her word to have her place cleaned up. Give her a certain time to do it in, and if she don't ..."

"Dammit, sir," Judge Stevens said, "will you accuse a lady to her face of smelling bad?"

So the next night, after midnight, four men crossed Miss Emily's lawn and slunk about the house like burglars, sniffing along the base of the brickwork and at the cellar openings while one of them performed a regular sowing motion with his hand out of a sack slung from his shoulder. They broke open the cellar door and sprinkled lime there, and in all the outbuildings. As they recrossed the lawn, a window that had been dark was lighted and Miss Emily sat in it, the light behind her, and her upright torso motionless as that of an idol. They crept quietly across the lawn and into the shadow of the locusts that lined the street. After a week or two the smell went away.

That was when people had begun to feel really sorry for her. People in our town, remembering how old lady Wyatt, her great-aunt, had gone completely crazy at last, believed that the Griersons held themselves a little too high for what they really were. None of the young men were quite good enough for Miss Emily and such. We had long thought of them as a tableau: Miss Emily a slender figure in white in the background, her father a spraddled spraddled silhouette in the foreground, his back to her and clutching a horsewhip, the two of them framed by the back-flung front door. 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.

When her father died, it got about that the house was all that was left to her; and in a way, people were glad. At last they could pity Miss Emily. Being left alone, and a pauper, she had become humanized. Now she too would know the old thrill and the old despair of a penny more or less.

The day after his death all the ladies prepared to call at the house and offer condolence and aid, as is our custom. 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, with the ministers calling on her, and the doctors, trying to persuade her to let them dispose of the body. Just as they were about to resort to law and force, she broke down, and they buried her father quickly.

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.

S HE WAS sick for a long time. When we saw her again, her hair was cut short, making her look like a girl, with a vague resemblance to those angles in colored church windows -- sort of tragic and serene.

The town had just let the contracts for paving the sidewalks, and in the summer after 236 her father's death they began the work. The construction company came with niggers and mules and machinery, and a foreman named Homer Barron, a Yankee -- a big, dark, ready man with a big voice and eyes lighter than his face. The little boys would follow in groups to hear him cuss the niggers, and the niggers singing in time to the rise and fall of picks. Pretty soon he knew everybody in town. Whenever you heard a lot of laughing anywhere about the square, Homer Barron would be in the center of the group. Presently we began to see him and Miss Emily on Sunday afternoons driving in the yellow-wheeled buggy and the matched team of bays from the livery stable.

At first we were glad that Miss Emily would have an interest, because the ladies all said, "Of course a Grierson would not think seriously of a Northerner, a day laborer." But there were still others, older people, who said that even grief could not cause a real lady to forget noblesse oblige -- without calling it noblesse oblige . They just said, "Poor Emily. Her kinfolks should come to her." She had some kin in Alabama; but years ago her father had fallen out with them over the estate of old lady Wyatt, the crazy woman, and there was no communication between the two families. They had not even been represented at the funeral.

And as soon as the old people said, "Poor Emily," the whispering began. "Do you suppose it's really so?" they said to one another. "Of course it is. What else could ..." This behind their hands; rustling of craned silk and stain behind jalousies jalousies closed upon the sun of Sunday afternoon as the thin, swift clop-clop-clop of the matched team passed: "Poor Emily."

She carried her head high enough -- even when we believed that she was fallen. It was as if she demanded more than ever the recognition of her dignity as the last Grierson; as if it had wanted that touch of earthiness to reaffirm her imperviousness. Like when she bought the rat poison, the arsenic. That was over a year after they had begun to say "Poor Emily," and while the two female cousins were visiting her.

"I want some poison," she said to the druggist. She was over thirty then, 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 eye-sockets as you imagine a lighthouse-keeper's face ought to look. "I want some poison," she said.

"Yes, Miss Emily. What kind? For rats and such? I'd recom --"

"I want the best you have. I don't care what kind."

The druggist named several. "They'll kill anything up to an elephant. But what you want is --"

"Arsenic," Miss Emily said. "Is that a good one?"

"Is ... arsenic? Yes, ma'am. But what you want--"

"I want arsenic."

The druggist looked down at her. She looked back at him, erect, her face like a strained flag. "Why, of course," the druggist said. "If that's what you want. But the law requires you to tell what you are going to use it for."

Miss Emily just stared at him, her head tilted back in order to look him eye to eye, until he looked away and went and got the arsenic and wrapped it up. The Negro delivery boy brought her the package; the druggist didn't come back. When she opened the package at home there was written on the box, under the skull and bones: "for rats."

S O The next day we all said, "She will kill herself;" and we said it would be the best thing. When she had first begun to be seen with Homer Barron, we had said, "She will marry him." Then we said, "She will persuade him yet," because Homer himself had remarked -- he liked men, and it was known that he drank with the younger men in the Elks' Club -- that he was not a marrying man. Later we said, "Poor Emily" behind the jalousies as they passed on Sunday afternoon in the glittering buggy, Miss Emily with her head high and Homer Barron with his hat cocked and a cigar in his teeth, reins and whip in a yellow glove.

Then some of the ladies began to say that it was a disgrace to the town and a bad example to the young people. The men did not want to interfere, but at last the ladies forced the Baptist minister -- Miss Emily's people were Episcopal -- to call upon her. He would never divulge what happened during that interview, but he refused to go back again. The next Sunday they again drove about the streets, and the 237 following day the minister's wife wrote to Miss Emily's relations in Alabama.

So she had blood-kin under her roof again and we sat back to watch developments. At first nothing happened. Then we were sure that they were to be married. We learned that Miss Emily had been to the jeweler's and ordered a man's toilet set in silver, with the letters H. B. on each piece. Two days later we learned that she had bought a complete outfit of men's clothing, including a nightshirt, and we said, "They are married." We were really glad. We were glad because the two female cousins even more Grierson than Miss Emily had ever been.

So we were not surprised when Homer Barron -- the streets had been finished some time since -- was gone. We were a little disappointed that there was not a public blowing-off, but we believed that he had gone on to prepare for Miss Emily's coming, or to give her a chance to get rid of the cousins. (By that time it was a cabal cabal , and we were all Miss Emily's allies to help circumvent the cousins.) Sure enough, after another week they departed. And, as we had expected all along, within three days Homer Barron was back in town. A neighbor saw the Negro man admit him at the kitchen door at dusk one evening.

And that was the last we saw of Homer Barron. And of Miss Emily for some time. The Negro man went in and out with the market basket, but the front door remained closed. Now and then we would see her at the window for a moment, as the men did that night when they sprinkled the lime, but for almost six months she did not appear on the streets. Then we knew that this was to be expected too; as if that quality of her father which had thwarted her woman's life so many times had been too virulent virulent and too furious to die.

When we next saw Miss Emily, she had grown fat and her hair was turning gray. During the next few years it few grayer and grayer until it attained an even pepper-and-salt iron-gray, when it ceased turning. Up to the day of her death at seventy-four it was still that vigorous iron-gray, like the hair of an active man.

From that time on her front door remained closed, save for a period of six or seven years, when she was about forty, during which she gave lessons in china-painting. She fitted up a studio in one of the downstairs rooms, where the daughters and grand-daughters of Colonel Sartoris' contemporaries were sent to her with the same regularity and in the same spirit that they were sent to church on Sundays with a twenty-five cent piece for the collection plate. Meanwhile her taxes had been remitted.

Then the newer generation became the backbone and the spirit of the town, and the painting pupils grew up and fell away and did not send their children to her with boxes of color and tedious brushes and pictures cut from the ladies' magazines. The front door closed upon the last one and remained closed for good. 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. She would not listen to them.

Daily, monthly, yearly we watched the Negro grow grayer and more stooped, going in and out with the market basket. 238 Each December we sent her a tax notice, which would be returned by the post office a week later, unclaimed. Now and then we would see her in one of the downstairs windows -- she had evidently shut up the top floor of the house -- like the cavern torso of an idol in a niche, looking or not looking at us, we could never tell which. Thus she passed from generation to generation -- dear, inescapable, impervious, tranquil, and perverse.

And so she died. Fell ill in the house filled with dust and shadows, with only a doddering Negro man to wait on her. We did not even know she was sick; we had long since given up trying to get any information from the Negro. He talked to no one, probably not even to her, for his voice had grown harsh and rusty, as if from disuse.

She died in one of the downstairs rooms, in a heavy walnut bed with a curtain, her gray head propped on a pillow yellow and moldy with age and lack of sunlight.

T HE NEGRO met the first of the ladies at the front door and let them in, with their hushed, sibilant sibilant voices and their quick, curious glances, and then he disappeared. He walked right through the house and out the back and was never seen again.

The two female cousins came at once. They held the funeral on the second day, with the town coming to look at Miss Emily beneath a mass of bought flowers, with the crayon face of her father musing profoundly above the bier bier and the ladies sibilant and macabre; and the very old men -- some in their brushed Confederate uniforms -- on the porch and the lawn, talking of Miss Emily as if she had been a contemporary of theirs, believing that they had danced with her and courted her perhaps, confusing time with its mathematical progression, as the old do, to whom all the past is not a diminishing road but, instead, a huge meadow which no winter ever quite touches, divided from the now by the narrow bottle-neck of the most recent decade of years.

Already we knew that there was one room in that region abovestairs which no one had seen in forty years, and which would have been to be forced. They waited until Miss Emily was decently in the ground before they opened it.

The violence of breaking down the door seemed to fill this room with pervading dust. A thin, acrid acrid pall as of the tomb seemed to lie everywhere upon this room decked and furnished as for a bridal: upon the valance curtains of faded rose color, upon the rose-shaded lights, upon the dressing table, upon the delicate array of crystal and the man's toilet things backed with tarnished silver, silver so tarnished that the monogram was obscured. Among them lay a collar and tie, as if they had just been removed, which, lifted, left upon the surface a pale crescent in the dust. Upon a chair hung the suit, carefully folded; beneath it the two mute shoes and the discarded socks.

The man himself lay in the bed.

For a long while we just stood there, looking down at the profound and fleshless grin. The body had apparently once lain in the attitude of an embrace, but now the long sleep that outlasts love, that conquers even the grimace of love, had cuckolded him. What was left of him rotted beneath what was left of the nightshirt, had become inextricable from the bed in which he lay; and upon him and upon the pillow beside him lay that even coating of the patient and biding dust.

Then we noticed that in the second pillow was the indentation of a head. One of us lifted something from it, and leaning forward, that faint and invisible dust dry and acrid in the nostrils, we saw a long strand of iron-gray hair.

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A Summary and Analysis of William Faulkner’s ‘A Rose for Emily’

By Dr Oliver Tearle (Loughborough University)

‘A Rose for Emily’ is a short story by William Faulkner, originally published in Forum in 1930 before being collected in Faulkner’s collection, These Thirteen , the following year. The story concerns an unmarried woman living in the American South who attracts the concern and suspicion of the townspeople after her father dies and she becomes romantically involved with a Yankee man from the North.

‘A Rose for Emily’ is a story that invites a number of different critical interpretations and has attracted a great deal of commentary and analysis. Before we analyse the meaning of Faulkner’s classic story, it might be worth recapping the plot.

‘A Rose for Emily’: plot summary

The story begins with the news that Miss Emily Grierson, a recluse living alone with a black servant in a large house in town, has died. The narrator, a kind of collective voice of the townspeople, tells us that everyone in the town attended the funeral, with many of the women being curious to see inside the woman’s house that nobody had been allowed inside for years.

We are told that ten years earlier, the aldermen of the town had gained access to her house in order to question her about failure to pay her taxes. She simply tells them that she does not owe any taxes to the town, and calls for her servant to show the men out. Thirty years before that, another group of men from the town had visited Emily Grierson’s home to sprinkle lime in the cellar and the outbuildings, in order to get rid of the smell coming from the house.

That was two years after the death of her father, a crayon portrait of whom stands on an easel in front of the fireplace. After her father’s death, Emily’s sweetheart had deserted her and Emily left the house only on very rare occasions. When the house had begun to smell a short while after, neighbours had complained to the mayor, but the mayor had been reluctant to confront Emily about such a delicate matter, hence the party of men sprinkling lime under and around the house.

The narrator tells us that the townspeople had always thought the Griersons held themselves in high regard, as if none of the men would be good enough for Emily. When her father died, the women turned up at her house to pay their condolences, but she denied that he had died. The doctors had to persuade Emily to bury the body.

Despite this odd behaviour, the townspeople didn’t consider Emily to be mad. They attributed her actions to her father’s controlling presence, and the way he had sent away all her potential suitors, forcing her to rely on him, even after his death.

After her father’s death, Emily was sick for a long while, and when she was seen again, she had cut her hair short to make her look like a girl. The following summer, a construction company arrived to pave the paths of the town, and the foreman, a Yankee from New York named Homer Barron, is seen out riding on Sundays with Emily. The townsfolk start to say, ‘Poor Emily’, believing that she cannot be seriously interested in a Northerner like Barron.

Emily purchases some arsenic from the local druggist, who assumes she will use it to kill rats. However, the rumour in the town is that Emily is planning to take her own life. People start to grow suspicious of the length of Emily’s courtship with Barron, with the minister intervening and the minister’s wife writing a concerned letter to Emily’s relatives in Alabama, and her cousins come to stay with her. Soon after this, the townsfolk became certain that Emily and Barron had married.

But then Homer Barron vanished, and nobody saw him again. Emily is barely seen either, and when she does reappear from the house, her hair has turned grey and she has put on weight. For a short while, Emily would give lessons in china-painting from her doorstep, but even this she eventually gave up. The townspeople grow up and move on and she becomes even more of a recluse. Her African-American servant loyally remains in her service, but nobody else goes into the house.

When Emily dies and her body is buried, the townsfolk finally venture into the upstairs bedroom in the house, where they discover the dead body of a man lying on the bed, surrounded by dust – presumably, the man is Homer Barron (though this is not stated). Next to the dead body is the indentation of a head and a long strand of Emily’s hair, suggesting that she was in the habit of lying next to the man’s body in the bed.

‘A Rose for Emily’: analysis

‘A Rose for Emily’ is a subtle story which blends first- and third-person narration, Gothic literature and realism, past memories and present events, to unsettle us as readers. The whole town appears to be the story’s narrator, a kind of collective ‘we’ which speaks together about – and against – Emily’s strange behaviour until we reach the chilling finale and Homer Barron’s body is discovered.

This means that Emily remains distant from us as readers, and we never learn about her inner life: we only ever see her from the outside, through the eyes of the townspeople. This is obviously fitting because Emily is an outsider in the town, but it also lends an air of mystery to the events recounted, because so little is understood of Emily’s motivations and emotions.

Because of this unnerving denouement, ‘A Rose for Emily’ is often regarded as an example of Southern Gothic : a literary mode, practised by writers of the American South (like Faulkner) whose stories and novels are characterised by macabre, horrific, or grotesque elements. Such fiction often also contains an accumulation of realist detail, and Faulkner allows the mood of uncanniness which pervades Emily’s house and her life to emerge gradually.

Her reluctance to give up her father’s body for burial, for example, foreshadows her (presumed) murder of her lover and concealment of his body in the upper bedroom, whom she killed when she realised that was the only way of holding onto him and ensuring he remained hers for good. The crumbling Gothic castle has become a house in the Southern United States, in which everything is ‘tarnished’ (note how often that word recurs), spoiled, fading (like Emily’s iron-grey hair), and falling to ruin.

This offers a new, more domestic take on a traditional trope in Gothic fiction: the dark secret threatening to destroy a ‘house’ or family (see Poe’s ‘ The Fall of the House of Usher ’ for one notable example from the nineteenth century), and (in many Gothic stories) the dead body that is only discovered at the end of the narrative.

But at least Poe’s protagonists managed to bury their bodies (although sometimes, as in the story just mentioned, before they were actually dead), or concealed them beneath the floorboards . Faulkner’s story instead hints at an altogether more morbid and unwholesome notion: that Emily has continued to ‘sleep’ with Homer even after he was dead (indeed, perhaps that was the only way she could sleep with him at all).

Another reason that the Southern Gothic tag is important for ‘A Rose for Emily’ is that Emily, a Southern lady, falls for a ‘Yankee’: a man from the North of the United States. Although the American Civil War ended in 1865, decades before Faulkner was writing, the sense of North-South divide, in terms of culture, class, and identity, proved long-lasting (and arguably persists to this day).

The townsfolk are appalled by the idea that Miss Emily, an aristocratic Southern lady, might seriously be considering marriage to a Northerner, whom they consider to be beneath her on the social scale (hence the reference to noblesse oblige : Emily should entertain Homer and be courteous to him, but the idea that she could marry such a man horrifies the Southern townspeople’s sensibilities).

Faulkner leaves many specific details of Emily’s relationship with Homer as mere hints and speculations, in keeping with the narrative mode of the story: the townspeople, shut out from her house and, in many ways, from her life, can only conjecture as to what happened. We are in a similar position, though it seems sensible enough to surmise that Emily fell in love with Homer – who, it is strongly suggested, had no intention of settling down with her.

Like Emily, he is a perpetual singleton, but whereas Emily is single because of the controlling influence of her father (an influence which persists, in its psychological hold on her, even after her father’s death), Homer is single by choice: a stark reminder of the gender differences between men and women in Southern society at this time.

Women like Emily attract concern and rumour if they remain unmarried, while the bachelor Homer Barron – whose name summons Greek heroism and nobility, while also hinting at the ‘barren’ nature of Emily’s would-be relationship with him – charms the townsfolk and becomes popular, despite being, like Emily, an outsider set apart from them.

Why does Faulkner title his story ‘A Rose for Emily’? In an interview he gave at the University of Virginia, he suggested that Emily deserved to be given a rose because of all of the torment she had endured: at the hands of her father, perhaps at the hands of Homer as well, and as a result of the townsfolk treating her like an outsider.

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Corpus ID: 224837916

“A Rose for Emily”: The Dichotomy of a Rose

J. Schweizer

6 References

A stylistic analysis of complexity in william faulkner's "a rose for emily", a precarious pedestal: the confederate woman in faulkner's unvanquished, weak men in william faulkner's a rose for emily, the ghostly voice of gossip in faulkner's a rose for emily, “tobe show these gentlemen out”, related papers.

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The South is Wilting | An analysis on A Rose for Emily

In 1860 the American South seceded from the Union to preserve their Southern way of life this consequently caused the American Civil War. After years of fighting, the South lost the Civil War and fell into the Reconstruction era lasting from the mid to late 1800s, stripping the South of everything but their proud Southern heritage. In William Faulkner’s short story “A Rose for Emily” he uses his text as a metaphor for the South’s struggle to abandon their traditions for modernity during the Reconstruction era through the life of Miss Emily Grierson. Using themes of control, isolation, and attachment, Faulkner draws from his old Southern roots to illuminate the turmoil the South faced as they tried to prolong their way of life when everything else was out of their control. In the clash between modernity and traditions, Emily’s traditional neighbors control her attempts to evolve into a modern woman turning her private life into the public. The outside forces controlling Emily’s life ultimately push her to insanity and death as she also tries to preserve her way of life through one of the only things she can control: isolation.

Similar to the South during the Reconstruction era, Emily’s way of life is continually stripped away by outside forces until she decides to resist and control her own life. After the horrors of the Civil War, the federal government imposes reconstruction to rebuild the South and modernize its regressive traditions. At the beginning of reconstruction, the old generation of Southerners resisted modernization and clung to their traditions. However, as the era progressed, a new generation of Southerners took control of the modernization and adapted the region to create a New South and expand on their traditions. Being the last of a long line of Southern aristocrats, Miss Emily represents the end of the old generation and is a relic of her time. Similar to Miss Emily, the author descended from a long line of southern aristocrats and used his upbringing in Reconstruction-era Mississippi for the story. Faulkner’s background helps him draw parallels to the townspeople stopping Emily from modernizing to the South, stopping reconstruction from completely modernizing their home.

Due to her family’s high status, Emily is born into the life of a southern belle, which is a well-off woman who is confined to oppressive gender roles, and her value is based on her beauty and femininity. Under gender roles, southern belle’s are controlled by the men in their life and the critical eye of other high society women whose judgments of each other work to control their reputation and how the rest sees them of society. After the death of EMily’s father, the belle abandons gentry for a reconstructionist life like the new generation of Southerners. With her newfound freedom, Emily begins to evolve into a modern woman, and starts with finding a suitor that she approves of. Although her father was gone there were still people who wanted to keep Emily from evolving. Without knowing anything about her life, Emily’s generation or the old generation of Southerners continually works to control Emily’s personal life. Employing the help of the local priest and Emily’s distinct cousins in Alabama, the ladies of the town work hard to keep Emily in line and maintain the image of an idyllic Southern town.

When the ladies of the town notice how out of character Emily is, they work to stop her from ruining her status of being a “disgrace to the town” (Faulkner 1072) by modernizing and marrying a Yankee. These women want to stop Emily from being “a bad example to the young people” (Faulkner 1072) by giving them the idea to modernize instead of conforming to Jefferson’s traditional agenda. After the Civil War, this old generation of Southern ladies never returned to their way of life before reconstruction. However, groups such as the Daughters of the Confederacy (Hunter 1) used the next generation of Southerners to keep the fantasy of Antebellum South alive. These groups funded Confederate memorial statues, created museums, and educated their children with their skewed views. By controlling modern figures such as Emily, the old generation was able to shield the new generation of Southerners from reconstructionist ideas and created policies that fought modernization. Even though Emily resisted being controlled by her generation and married the Northerner, it came at a price. Emily lives out the rest of her life in isolation, serving a symbolic life sentence for not conforming to Southern society’s norms. Ultimately, by extracting herself from society, Emily loses all control over how the townspeople of Jefferson, Mississippi, view her, leaving herself vulnerable to the harsh judgments chronicled throughout the story.

Spending her early years isolated away from everyone in the town of Jefferson, Mississippi but her father no one really knows anything about Emily or her life, resulting in the misjudgements of the local townspeople. As Emily got older, she began to emerge into society, but quickly went back to isolation when she was criticized for not conforming with others. When Emily felt that she had lost almost all control over her life to the outside world, she took charge over one of the last aspects of her life where no one would control her. Lacking the ability to evolve without the critical eye of her generation, Emily isolates herself inside her home, allowing herself to be the only one to control her life instead of the outside world. Now free from the outside world, Emily finally has control to make her own choices within isolation but now in control she chooses not to control her life. Instead allowing everything around her to die, including the modern woman inside her which marks the end of her life leaving her with nothing to do but grow old in solitude. Emily’s grand home which used to be the model of classic Southern architecture and a representation of the past that the old generation longs for, turned into “an eyesore among eyesores,” (Faulkner 1066) consumed with the smell of Emily’s rotting husband. In her isolation, Emily’s life and everything around her begins to rot as the past is revealed to be not as great as it seems.

Clinging to a life they barely know; the old generation is attached to the past throughout the story. Retelling their idea of the lost cause of the Confederacy as if it were good old days, across the South to fight modernization. The townspeople of Jefferson, Mississippi work within their best interests to bring back the past and raise the next generation to live in a time centuries before them. Interested in the life of a woman they do not know; the old generation involves themselves in the personal life of Miss Emily Grierson to stop her from modernizing. Both groups attached to their own ideas, causing conflict which ends with both sticking to their own ideas. Both tightly clinging to their ideals without any space for adaptation, leads to severe consequences such as insanity by having no allies or obsession of pushing one’s agenda and pushing others to the side. The attachment of traditions led to the South’s struggle with Reconstruction and ultimate destruction of other people through hurtful policies such as Jim Crow. Evolution is needed to loosen the grip of one idea for future advancement that can occur, but due to the importance of preservation the South was isolated from the rest of America’s advancements. Making their situation similar to Emily’s as those in the South try to modernize while the townspeople represent the rest of the South who work to prevent the success of Reconstruction. Ultimately choosing to kill the idea of ever advancing without possibility of changing and symbolically rotting into the ugliness of the Jim Crow era.

Narrated by those who knew Miss Emily the least, the townspeople of Jefferson, Mississippi, recall their life through their critical lenses and speculation. As a product of her generation, Emily tries to evolve and break the oppressed Southern Belles’ trend, defined by superficial qualities. Emily’s story is a metaphor for the South’s constant battle due to the Reconstruction-era as they protected their traditions and defeated modernizing forces. Faulkner places all the worst aspects of reconstructionist south in Emily’s character. Highlighting the individuals who controlled the South’s narrative to preserve their traditions alongside their agenda, those who shut themselves into isolation to avoid judgments for modernizing, and the region’s attachment to a distant memory of Antebellum South. Ultimately the Reconstruction era engaged the South in another Civil War, as the majority fought off modernization and the minority faced a silent battle to any hope of a reformed South. With a region fighting against itself, it is easy to understand why Faulkner wrote “A Rose for Emily,” as an “an irrevocable tragedy” (Jelliffe 1) with citizens fighting against the advancement of their home to preserve their comfortable life. There is nothing you can do to stop this tragedy but pity and offer a rose to the neglected South out of pity of what the region could be instead of how it grew to be.

Works Cited

A Rose for Emily. Directed by Lyndon Cubbuck. Performances by Anjelica Husto, John Randolph and John Carradine. Chubbuck Production Company, 1983.

Faulkner, William. “A Rose for Emily.” McDougal Littell Literature: American Literature . Ed. Applebee et al. 6th ed. Evanston, IL: McDougal Littell, 2008. 1064-1077.

Gone with the Wind. Directed by Victor Fleming. Performances by Vivien Leigh and Clark Gable, Selznick International Pictures, 1939.

Google Images for free and fair use.

Hunter, Alex. “Why ‘A Rose for Emily’ is a representation of Reconstruction South.” Medium. 2018. Retrieved from https://medium.com/@alexhunter365/why-a-rose-for-emily-is-a-representation-of-reconstruction-south-46c4b31978c8

Jelliffe, Robert. “Faulkner at Nagano.” Tokyo: Kenkyusha Ltd., 1956. Retrived from http://admin.faulkner.edu/admin/websites/cwarmack/William%20Faulkner%20speaks%20on.pdf

Oneclick. “Blooming Rose Flower || Time-Lapse Movie.” Youtube. 2018. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0TcPkdVsK8

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A Rose for Emily

William faulkner.

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Welcome to the LitCharts study guide on William Faulkner's A Rose for Emily . Created by the original team behind SparkNotes, LitCharts are the world's best literature guides.

A Rose for Emily: Introduction

A rose for emily: plot summary, a rose for emily: detailed summary & analysis, a rose for emily: themes, a rose for emily: quotes, a rose for emily: characters, a rose for emily: symbols, a rose for emily: literary devices, a rose for emily: theme wheel, brief biography of william faulkner.

Historical Context of A Rose for Emily

Other books related to a rose for emily.

Full Title: “A Rose for Emily”
Where Written: Oxford, Mississippi
When Published: April 30, 1930
Literary Period: American Modernism
Genre: Southern Gothic
Setting: The fictional town of Jefferson, Mississippi, located in the fictional Yoknapatawpha County, where many of Faulkner’s works are set
Climax: The townspeople’s discovery that Miss Emily murdered Homer Barron and lived with his corpse
Antagonist: Southern society’s paralyzing nostalgia for a glorified past, as well as its rigid customs and conventions
Point of View: First-person plural (“we”) limited

Extra Credit for A Rose for Emily

A Rose for the Title. Readers will notice that, though the story is entitled “A Rose for Emily,” Emily never receives a rose. Faulkner explained in an interview: “Oh, that was an allegorical title: the meaning was, here was a woman who had had a tragedy, an irrevocable tragedy and nothing could be done about it. And I pitied her and this was a salute. Just as if you were to make a gesture, a salute to anyone: to a woman you would hand a rose.”

A Family Legacy. Colonel Sartoris, a minor character in “A Rose for Emily,” appears in other works by Faulkner, including the novels Flags in the Dust and The Unvanquished ; he is modeled on Faulkner’s own great-grandfather, William Clark Falkner, a Confederate colonel in the Civil War, a businessman, and an author.

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William Faulkner: A Rose for Emily. Summary and analysis

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“A Rose for Emily,” a work by William Faulkner, a prominent author in American literature, initially published in 1930, is a story that delves into the themes of decline, isolation and resistance to change. The story, narrated by an unidentified observer, takes place in a Southern town and centers on the figure of Emily Grierson, a woman who becomes something of an enigma and object of curiosity to the community’s inhabitants.

The story begins with Emily’s death and the town’s inhabitants’ interest in visiting her home, a place closed to the outside world for many years. A series of flashbacks reveals crucial details of Emily’s life and her complex relationship with the town.

Emily, described as a relic of the past, resides in a once stately home, now dilapidated, symbolizing the decay of herself and traditional Southern values. Her father, an authoritative and controlling figure in life, had driven away all of Emily’s suitors, so she was left unmarried after his death. Emily’s refusal to acknowledge her father’s death for three days after his passing is the first indication of her disconnect with reality.

The arrival of Homer Barron, a laborer from the North, introduces a new chapter in Emily’s life. Despite the town’s rumors and skepticism, Emily and Homer seem to develop a relationship. However, Homer mysteriously disappears, and Emily secludes herself in her home, reaffirming her image as a lonely and mysterious figure.

After Emily’s death, the inhabitants discover that Homer’s corpse is lying on a bed in a locked room, along with a lock of gray hair presumed to be Emily’s. This revelation suggests a macabre and haunting connection between Emily and her once furtive lover.

The story explores resistance to change, the impact of rigid social structures and extreme loneliness. The fragmented, non-linear narrative, typical of Faulkner’s style, creates a sense of mystery and depth, allowing the reader to piece together Emily’s story and its meaning gradually. The story also examines the decline of the Old South and certain characters’ inability to adapt to social and temporal changes.

William Faulkner : A Rose for Emily

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Characters and their development throughout the narrative.

In “A Rose for Emily,” Faulkner presents a small but significant set of characters whose development is closely intertwined with the work’s central themes. The narrative is built around Emily Grierson but also includes secondary figures who contribute to the evolution of the plot and deepen the themes Faulkner develops in his story.

Emily Grierson: Emily is the central character of the story. Throughout the narrative, she is shown to transition from being a young girl in a prominent family to becoming a mysterious recluse. After the death of her father, a domineering and controlling being who rejected all her suitors, Emily finds herself alone and isolated. This isolation worsens over time, driving her into a state of denial and delusion, especially evident in her refusal to accept her father’s death and later in her relationship with Homer Barron. Emily is a complex character who represents resistance to change, the influence of the past and oppressive social norms.

Homer Barron: A Northern laborer, represents change and modernity that challenges Southern traditions. His relationship with Emily is viewed with suspicion and disapproval by the townspeople. The relationship never culminates in marriage, and mysteriously, Homer disappears. At the end of the story, it is revealed that this disappearance was caused by Emily, who poisoned him and then kept his body in a room in the old house. The figure of Homer and his ultimate fate are crucial to understanding the depth of Emily’s isolation and disturbance.

Emily’s father: Although dead before most of the events recounted in the story, the influence of Emily’s father is a constant presence. His control over Emily and his rejection of her suitors leave a profound mark on her psyche, contributing to her isolation and eventual imbalance. The father figure symbolizes the social restrictions and gender expectations of the time.

The community: Although not a “character” in the traditional sense, the community plays a vital role in the story. It serves as a Greek chorus, observing and commenting on Emily’s life. The town’s attitude toward Emily reflects the social norms and prejudices of the time. Their curiosity and gossip contribute to the narrative’s tone of mystery and judgment.

The development of these characters takes place through a series of flashbacks and anecdotes, which gradually reveal the complexity of their lives and relationships. Faulkner uses these characters to explore the various themes he develops in the story, creating a narrative fabric in which each character contributes to the plot and the more significant meaning of the story.

William Faulkner - Una rosa para Emily. Resumen y análisis - Imagen 1

The setting of “A Rose for Emily”.

The play is set in a small town in the southern United States, in a time spanning from the late nineteenth century to the early twentieth century. This context is crucial, reflecting the South’s social and cultural tensions in transition after the Civil War.

Emily Grierson’s house: Emily’s house is a character and critical symbol in the story. Once stately and respected, it becomes a decrepit and decaying structure surrounded by garages and cotton tents. This physical transformation of the house reflects Emily’s physical and emotional deterioration and the decline of the Old South and its values. The house, with its locked rooms and dusty, stagnant atmosphere, is also a crucial setting for the story’s climax and final revelation.

The Southern Town: The town reflects the post-Civil War South, grappling with social and economic changes. The narrative highlights the transitioning from a society based on old honor codes and social hierarchies to a more modern, less stratified one. This change is illustrated in how the town’s characters interact with Emily and her family and how these changes affect their perception of them.

The era: The story spans several decades, allowing Faulkner to explore the impact of time on people and societies. The transition from the 19th century to the 20th century brought significant changes to the South, including attitudes toward class, gender, and the legacy of the Civil War. Emily’s resistance to these changes, symbolized by her house and lifestyle, reflects the tension between the past and the present.

Writing techniques employed by Faulkner in “A Rose for Emily.”

Non-linear and fragmented narrator: Faulkner opts for a non-linear narrative structure, moving back and forth in time. This technique creates a sense of mystery and allows the story to unfold gradually, revealing critical details at strategic moments. The fragmented narrative reflects the theme of decay and chaos, both in Emily’s life and Southern society.

Collective Narrator: The story is narrated by an unnamed narrator who represents the collective perspective of the townspeople. This approach creates distance between Emily and the reader while at the same time providing a panoramic view of how the community views and judges Emily and her family. This technique reinforces the themes of gossip, isolation, and social judgment.

Language: Faulkner is known for his rich and poetic use of language. In “A Rose for Emily,” he employs descriptive language to create a dense and evocative atmosphere. For example, the detailed descriptions of Emily’s house are vital to establishing the somber tone and decay that permeate the story.

Symbolism: The story is loaded with symbolism. Emily’s house, for example, symbolizes the decline of the Old South. At the same time, the rose of the title has been interpreted in various ways, including as a symbol of love and compassion for Emily. These symbols enrich the narrative, providing additional layers of meaning.

Themes and Motifs: Faulkner weaves several themes and motifs throughout the story, including death, the passage of time, and resistance to change. The use of these themes contributes to the depth and complexity of the story, allowing for multiple interpretations.

Character Psychology: Throughout his narrative, Faulkner deeply explores the psychology of his characters, especially Emily. This detailed approach offers intimate insight into their motivations, fears, and desires, which adds significant richness to the narrative.

In “A Rose for Emily,” Faulkner’s narrative style is complex and meticulously crafted. His non-linear approach, coupled with a collective narrator, richly descriptive language, use of symbolism, and in-depth exploration of themes and character psychology, creates a work that not only tells the story of a woman and a people but also offers a meditation on broader themes such as time, change, and memory.

Narrative point of view

Collective Narrator: The use of “we” in the narrative suggests that the narrator is a cooperative witness, representing the opinions, perceptions, and prejudices of the village community. This collective point of view is essential to understanding the relationship between Emily and the surrounding society. The narrator is not an individual but a composite voice reflecting the mindset and attitudes of the community.

Limited perspective: Despite witnessing the events in Emily’s life, the narrators have limited knowledge of her inner thoughts, feelings, and motivations. This limitation reinforces the mystery surrounding Emily and her story, as the reader only receives the information filtered through the perspective of the community’s inhabitants.

Implications of judgment and prejudice: By telling the story from the townspeople’s point of view, Faulkner allows the prejudices and judgments of the community to become part of the narrative. How the townspeople talk about Emily and her family reveals their social norms, expectations, and attitudes toward change and decay.

Distancing from the main character: Through this point of view, Emily is presented as an object of fascination and speculation, but she is always kept at an emotional distance from the reader. This distancing intensifies the aura of isolation and mystery surrounding her character.

Reliability of the narrator: The collective narrator in “A Rose for Emily” is unreliable. His account is tinged by gossip and community perceptions, which can lead to biased interpretations of events. This aspect adds a layer of complexity to the story, as the reader must discern reality from the narrator’s perceptions and biases.

William Faulkner - Una rosa para Emily. Resumen y análisis - Imagen 2

Main themes addressed in the story

Isolation and loneliness: Emily Grierson is a profoundly isolated character, both physically and emotionally. This isolation is exacerbated by the death of her father and her inability to form meaningful relationships with others. Emily’s loneliness reflects her internal struggle and disconnection from the outside world.

Resistance to change: Resistance to change is a central theme in the story. Emily symbolizes it, clinging to traditions and ways of life. Her refusal to accept the death of her father and her relationship with Homer Barron are examples of her refusal to accept reality and adapt to change.

Decay: The story explores decay in the physical sense, with Emily’s house, and in the social and moral sense. The decay of Emily’s house parallels her own physical and mental deterioration and the decline of the traditions and values of the Old South.

Death: Death is a constant presence in the story, from the death of Emily’s father to her death and the revelation of Homer Barron’s corpse. Death is used to explore themes of loss, fear of loneliness, and the psychological impact of mortality.

Social Classes and Gender: The story addresses class differences and gender expectations in the South during the post-Civil War period. Emily, belonging to a family of high social standing, faces specific expectations due to her gender and class. Her relationship with Homer Barron, who represents a different social class and culture, challenges these norms.

Madness and obsession: Emily’s story also explores madness and obsession. Her behavior towards her dead father and Homer Barron suggests a disturbed mind, unable to accept reality and obsessed with maintaining control over her loved ones, even in death.

Tradition vs. modernity: The story reflects the conflict between the traditions of the Old South and the arrival of modernity. This theme is seen in Emily’s resistance to the new generations and how the community perceives her home and behavior.

Historical and cultural context

Published in 1930, the story is set in a small town in the southern United States and spans the late nineteenth century to the early twentieth century. This context reflects several significant social and cultural dynamics:

Post-American Civil War: The story is set in the South after the American Civil War. This era was one of significant social and economic change. The abolition of slavery and the defeat of the South led to a change in traditional social structures. This period was also marked by a struggle for reconstruction and the redefinition of Southern identity.

Reconstruction and resentment: The Reconstruction period saw attempts to integrate the defeated Southern states into the Union and to establish civil rights for formerly enslaved people. However, there was also strong resentment among many Southerners over these transformations, leading to racial and social tensions.

Decline of the Old South: Faulkner presents the Old South through Emily’s house and lifestyle. The physical decay of the house symbolizes the decay of a way of life and a set of values. The story captures the loss and nostalgia for an era that is disappearing.

Change vs. tradition: The South is transitioning, struggling between maintaining traditions and adapting to new changes. This is reflected in Emily’s resistance to accepting change in her life and her community.

Gender roles and social class: During this period, gender expectations and roles were firmly entrenched. As a woman from a high-status family, Emily faces specific pressures. Her isolation and defiant behavior can also be seen as a reaction to these restrictions.

Southern culture: Faulkner, a native of the American South, infuses the story with an intimate understanding of Southern culture. The importance of family reputation, honor, and community perceptions are central elements in the tale.

William Faulkner - Una rosa para Emily. Resumen y análisis - Imagen 3

Conclusions or lessons to be drawn from the story.

Rather than offering direct conclusions or lessons, “A Rose for Emily” invites reflection on several critical aspects of human nature and society.

Impact of social isolation: The story illustrates how extreme isolation and lack of social interaction can lead to disorientation and madness. Emily Grierson, isolated first by her father and then by her own choices, shows how a lack of social connection can lead to destructive behavior and a distorted perception of reality.

Resistance to change and its consequences: The story reflects the struggle between change and tradition. Emily becomes a symbol of resistance to change, which ultimately leads to her ruin. This highlights that clinging to the past can impede personal growth and adaptation to new realities.

Effects of oppression and control: The oppressive influence of Emily’s father and the social expectations of the time illustrate how oppression and control can warp a person’s psyche. This suggests a critique of restrictive social structures and the imposition of rules that limit individual freedom.

Decay and death as universals: The story addresses the inevitability of decay and death in physical and symbolic terms. Emily’s story and the decay of her house are metaphors for mortality and the inevitable passage of time, universal themes in the human experience.

Reflection on social norms: The play also critiques social norms and how the community judges and labels individuals. The story questions the role of hearsay and community perceptions in shaping a person’s identity and reputation.

The importance of understanding and empathy: Although Emily is a tragic figure, the story invites readers to understand and empathize with her situation. This suggests a lesson about the importance of seeking to understand the struggles and contexts of others before judging them.

In conclusion, “A Rose for Emily” does not offer direct or explicit moral lessons; instead, it provides fertile ground for meditation on complex issues such as isolation, change, oppression, and the nature of society. Faulkner uses Emily’s story to explore these themes in a way that invites readers to reflect deeply on their meaning and relevance in the larger world.

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A Rose for Emily Research Paper Topics

This article introduces an exhaustive list of A Rose for Emily research paper topics , segmented into diverse categories for a tailored academic exploration. Delving into the intricate layers of Faulkner’s masterpiece, A Rose for Emily offers students a myriad of research avenues. From understanding its thematic richness to the story’s historical and socio-cultural context, the proposed A Rose for Emily research paper topics promise a comprehensive analysis. Additionally, readers will gain insights into selecting the right research topic and crafting an impactful paper. With iResearchNet’s bespoke writing services, students can further elevate their research journey, benefiting from our industry-leading expertise and unparalleled support.

100 A Rose for Emily Research Paper Topics

William Faulkner’s A Rose for Emily is not just a tale of a woman and her town, but it serves as a lens through which various aspects of the Southern United States and its intricate layers can be viewed. The story, enigmatic in its narration and profound in its themes, has been a favorite for literary critiques and students alike. Here, we offer a rich assortment of A Rose for Emily research paper topics spanning diverse categories to help you dive deep into the world of Emily Grierson and her hauntingly tragic life.

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I. Thematic Explorations

The decay of the Old South: Symbolism in A Rose for Emily.
Exploring isolation and loneliness through Emily Grierson.
The struggle for power: A study of gender roles in the story.
The implications of tradition versus change in Faulkner’s narrative.
Memory and the past: How Faulkner plays with time.
The role of community: Its influence and judgment on individual lives.
Love and obsession: Analyzing Emily’s relationship dynamics.
Death as a recurring motif in A Rose for Emily.
The psychological implications of Emily’s necrophilia.
The house as a character: Symbolism and significance.

II. Historical and Socio-cultural Context

The post-Civil War South and its reflection in A Rose for Emily.
Class distinctions and their decay in Faulkner’s setting.
Representations of racial relations in the story.
Emily as a symbol of the declining aristocracy in the Southern states.
Economic shifts and their influence on character behaviors.
The changing role and perception of women in the South.
The impact of industrialization reflected in Faulkner’s Jefferson.
Southern gothic elements in A Rose for Emily.
Post-war disillusionment: A reading of the town’s attitude.
Faulkner’s own Mississippi: Real-life parallels in the story.

III. Character Analyses

Emily Grierson: A character study of stagnation and decay.
Homer Barron: An outsider’s role in a close-knit community.
The town of Jefferson as an omnipresent narrator.
The Griersons: A deeper look into family dynamics.
Minor characters in the story and their symbolic roles.
Analyzing the unnamed narrator: Importance and unreliability.
The influence of Mr. Grierson on Emily’s psyche.
Tobe: A silent observer’s perspective.
Women in A Rose for Emily : Traditional versus defiant.
The unseen characters: Their influence and implications in the narrative.

IV. Literary Devices and Techniques

Faulkner’s use of a non-linear timeline: Effects and interpretations.
Symbolism in A Rose for Emily : More than just metaphors.
The significance of the story’s title and its multiple interpretations.
Faulkner’s narrative technique: The collective voice.
The use of foreshadowing in hinting at the story’s dark ending.
The role of setting in establishing mood and atmosphere.
Point of view in A Rose for Emily : How it shapes the story.
Faulkner’s choice of language: The duality of beauty and decay.
Analyzing the story’s climax: Shock, horror, and inevitability.
The silence and the unsaid: Reading between the lines.

V. Comparative Analyses

A Rose for Emily and other Faulkner works: Common threads.
Contrasting Emily Grierson with other literary heroines of her time.
The story in the context of Southern Gothic literature.
A Rose for Emily and the works of Flannery O’Connor: A study of the grotesque.
Comparing the town’s dynamics with other Faulkner settings.
Isolation in A Rose for Emily versus other contemporary works.
Power dynamics in the story compared to The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman.
Exploring decay in A Rose for Emily and The Fall of the House of Usher by Edgar Allan Poe.
Love and obsession: A Rose for Emily and Wuthering Heights .
The role of time in Faulkner’s story versus Virginia Woolf’s narratives.

VI. Adaptations and Media Interpretations

The challenges and liberties of adapting A Rose for Emily for stage and screen.
A study of the 1983 short film adaptation: Additions, omissions, and alterations.
Exploring Faulkner’s story in modern popular culture references.
The use of music and sound in portraying the eerie atmosphere of the tale in films.
Reception and critique of A Rose for Emily in media adaptations.
The implications of visualizing Emily: How different portrayals affect our understanding.
Media’s influence on the story’s popularity among new generations.
The challenge of representing the nonlinear timeline in movies and plays.
Comparing the pacing and tension buildup in written versus adapted versions.
How various adaptations have approached the story’s shocking climax.

VII. Modern Relevance

A Rose for Emily in the context of contemporary discussions about mental health.
The story’s portrayal of women: A modern feminist reading.
Exploring themes of isolation in the age of social media, using Emily as a case study.
The Grierson house in the story vs. modern architectural symbols of isolation and decay.
Emily’s resistance to change in the context of today’s rapidly evolving world.
The relevance of Faulkner’s depiction of race relations in today’s society.
A Rose for Emily and the modern discourse on class and socioeconomic status.
Reading Emily’s character in the light of modern psychological theories.
The story’s take on patriarchal authority and its resonance in today’s world.
Analyzing the town’s complicity and parallels with contemporary societal behaviors.

VIII. Critical Reception

Initial reactions to A Rose for Emily upon its publication.
How various literary movements and schools have interpreted the story over the decades.
Critiques of Faulkner’s portrayal of the South.
Analysis of feminist critiques of the story.
The story’s place in academic curricula over the years.
Shifts in the story’s interpretations among literary critics over time.
The influence of cultural and societal changes on the story’s critical reception.
How A Rose for Emily compares in critical reception to Faulkner’s other works.
Exploring the most controversial debates surrounding the story.
The role of A Rose for Emily in establishing Faulkner’s reputation as a literary giant.

IX. Future Predictions based on the Story

How the themes of A Rose for Emily might evolve in future literary landscapes.
Predicting the longevity of the story’s relevance in literary studies.
The potential of A Rose for Emily in future media adaptations, including emerging formats.
Anticipating future critical perspectives on Faulkner’s tale.
How technological advancements might offer new insights or interpretations (e.g., virtual reality adaptations).
The story’s potential influence on future Southern Gothic writers.
A Rose for Emily in future discussions about the evolution of the American South.
Predicting the place of the story in digital and interactive literature.
The potential for A Rose for Emily to be reimagined in futuristic or speculative settings.
The story’s potential role in discussions about preserving literary heritage in the digital age.

X. The Influence of Personal Experiences

Faulkner’s personal experiences and their reflection in A Rose for Emily.
How the town of Oxford, Mississippi, influenced the depiction of Jefferson.
Personal tragedies in Faulkner’s life and their echoes in the story.
Drawing parallels between Faulkner’s known relationships and the characters in the story.
The influence of Faulkner’s own family history and Southern lineage.
Analyzing the author’s known views on race, class, and gender in the context of the story.
The impact of Faulkner’s experiences in World War I on his portrayal of decay and change.
Exploring any autobiographical elements hinted at in the narrative.
The story in the broader context of Faulkner’s life and career.
How A Rose for Emily might have been a reflection of Faulkner’s fears and aspirations.

In conclusion, A Rose for Emily is a literary gem that offers myriad avenues for research and exploration. A Rose for Emily research paper topics listed above are just the tip of the iceberg, and each one opens doors to new interpretations and insights. Whether you choose to delve deep into character analyses, explore the historical context, or draw comparisons with other literary works, you’re bound to unravel new layers of Faulkner’s masterpiece.

A Rose for Emily and the Range of Research Paper Topics It Offers

In the annals of American literature, William Faulkner stands as a titan, weaving tales that capture the essence, conflicts, and nuances of the American South. One of his most studied and enigmatic stories, A Rose for Emily , is a testament to his genius, offering readers a haunting exploration of isolation, resistance to change, and the passage of time. Given its depth and intricacy, it is no surprise that it has become a cornerstone in literary discussions and academic curricula.

At its core, A Rose for Emily narrates the life of Miss Emily Grierson, a woman who becomes an object of fascination, critique, pity, and horror in the town of Jefferson. The story presents a non-linear account of her life, from her youthful days of promise to her reclusive years and eventual death. Throughout, Faulkner masterfully uses Emily as a lens to reflect on broader themes, including the Old South’s decline, the encroachment of modernity, race relations, and the complexities of interpersonal relationships.

This narrative’s layered nature presents a plethora of avenues for academic exploration. Literary enthusiasts can delve into character studies, understanding the enigmatic Emily or dissecting the town of Jefferson’s collective psyche. Then there’s the theme of time, with Faulkner’s innovative non-linear storytelling inviting interpretations about memory, history, and change. Questions regarding gender roles, societal expectations, and the consequences of stringent societal norms are rife in Emily’s tragic tale.

Further deepening the richness of research possibilities are the story’s various adaptations and the critical reception it has garnered over the decades. Scholars can examine how A Rose for Emily has been translated to stage, screen, and other media forms. How do these adaptations respect Faulkner’s vision, and where do they divert? Such discussions pave the way for a meta-analysis of the story within the broader context of cultural evolution and shifting societal values.

Modern relevance is another intriguing domain. In an age defined by rapid technological advances, burgeoning discussions on mental health, and evolving social norms, where does Emily Grierson fit? Can her isolation and the town’s voyeuristic tendencies be related to today’s digital age, where social media often plays the dual role of connecting and alienating?

The beauty of A Rose for Emily is its enduring relevance and the multitude of lenses through which it can be viewed. Whether it’s a deep dive into Southern Gothic elements, a study of its cultural and historical backdrop, or a psychological exploration of its characters, the story remains a fertile ground for research and discussion. For students and scholars alike, the narrative holds the promise of unending discovery, ensuring that Emily’s rose, though withered with time, never truly fades.

How to Choose A Rose for Emily Research Paper Topics

Choosing A Rose for Emily research paper topics can be both an exhilarating and daunting task. The richness of Faulkner’s narrative, combined with its multifaceted characters and intricate themes, opens up a treasure trove of possibilities. Yet, with such an abundance of avenues to explore, where does one begin? The following comprehensive guide aims to simplify this process by offering valuable insights and structured steps:

Start with Personal Interest: Begin by identifying what personally resonates with you in the story. Whether it’s the depiction of Emily’s mental decline, the town’s collective attitude, or Faulkner’s narrative style, choose an angle that genuinely intrigues you. Passion is the driving force behind compelling research.
Re-read the Text: Before settling on a specific topic, re-read A Rose for Emily with a fresh set of eyes. As you do so, take notes on recurring themes, symbols, or character dynamics that stand out.
Broaden Your Context: While the story itself is a rich source, expand your horizon by understanding the historical, cultural, and societal backdrop of the American South in which Faulkner wrote. This can provide crucial context and introduce new angles of interpretation.
Engage with Existing Research: Before delving into your research, review existing scholarly articles, essays, and critiques on the story. This will not only offer new perspectives but will also help in identifying gaps in the existing body of research.
Focus on Character Dynamics: Faulkner’s characters are not mere fictional constructs but represent broader societal norms, values, and prejudices. Exploring the relationships and dynamics between characters can lead to rich analytical discussions.
Consider Structure and Style: Faulkner’s non-linear narrative and intricate prose are ripe for exploration. Delve into his narrative techniques, symbolism, or even his use of imagery and metaphors.
Evaluate Societal Themes: A Rose for Emily is rife with themes ranging from the impact of societal expectations to the intricacies of race relations in the South. Choose a theme that aligns with broader societal issues, making your research more relevant and contemporary.
Combine Themes for Depth: Instead of focusing on a single theme or character, consider interweaving multiple themes. For instance, how does the town’s perception of gender roles intersect with their treatment of Emily? Such an interdisciplinary approach can add layers to your analysis.
Stay Open to Evolving Ideas: While it’s essential to begin with a clear research question, allow your topic to evolve as you delve deeper into the text and supplementary resources. Often, the best insights emerge when one is flexible in their approach.
Seek Feedback: Once you’ve narrowed down your topic, discuss it with peers, instructors, or mentors. External perspectives can offer valuable feedback, refine your ideas, or even introduce you to novel angles you hadn’t considered.

In conclusion, selecting A Rose for Emily research paper topics is a journey of discovery. By integrating personal passion with a structured approach and seeking continuous growth and refinement, you’ll not only arrive at a compelling topic but also embark on a rewarding academic adventure. Remember, the beauty of literature lies in its ability to offer new insights with each reading. Embrace this dynamism, and let your research be a testament to Faulkner’s enduring legacy.

How to Write a A Rose for Emily Research Paper

Writing a research paper on a literary work like A Rose for Emily requires more than just an understanding of the text. It necessitates a blend of analytical prowess, thorough research, and a structured approach. Crafting an impeccable paper on such a masterpiece can be intimidating, but with the right strategy, the process can be streamlined and even enjoyable. Let’s delve into a comprehensive guide to ensure your paper stands out:

Understanding the Story’s Core: Before anything else, ensure you thoroughly understand A Rose for Emily . This might sound fundamental, but many students rush through their initial reading. Spend time analyzing the main plot, character motivations, and the narrative’s central themes.
Develop a Strong Thesis: Your thesis is the foundation of your paper. It should be specific and arguable. For instance, rather than saying “The story explores themes of isolation,” you might argue, “Faulkner’s A Rose for Emily utilizes the decaying Grierson house as a symbol of Emily’s increasing isolation from society.”
Research Extensively: Beyond the text, delve into secondary sources such as scholarly articles, critical essays, and historical documents related to the setting and period of the story. Familiarize yourself with Faulkner’s other works and the broader literary and cultural context of his time.
Outline Your Paper: An outline helps in organizing your thoughts and ensuring that every argument flows logically into the next. Start with an introduction, followed by your main arguments, and then a conclusion. Under each section, jot down the main points or evidence you wish to include.
Write with Clarity: Given the intricate nature of Faulkner’s narrative, clarity in expression is crucial. Avoid convoluted sentences and ensure each paragraph has a clear main idea that supports your overall thesis.
Incorporate Direct Quotations: Using direct quotes from the story can bolster your arguments. However, ensure they are relevant to your point and are appropriately cited.
Discuss Symbolism and Imagery: A Rose for Emily is rife with symbolism, from the decaying house to the strand of hair. Analyze these symbols in depth, linking them to your main arguments and the broader themes of the story.
Maintain Objectivity: While personal opinions and interpretations are integral to literary analysis, ensure your arguments are rooted in evidence from the text or reputable secondary sources.
Revise Multiple Times: Once your first draft is complete, set it aside for a day or two. Return to it with fresh eyes, refining your arguments, ensuring cohesiveness, and rectifying any grammatical errors. Peer reviews can also be invaluable at this stage.
Conclude Strongly: Your conclusion should not merely be a summary. Instead, it should wrap up your arguments and offer broader insights or implications of your analysis. For instance, how does the isolation depicted in A Rose for Emily compare to modern-day societal isolation?

Additional Tips:

Contextual Analysis: Dive into the historical and cultural backdrop of the American South during the time Faulkner wrote. How do societal norms of the time shape the story’s characters and events?
Character Analysis: Spend time dissecting the psychology and motivations of Emily, the townspeople, and other pivotal characters. How do their actions and reactions drive the story forward?
Formatting and Citations: Ensure that your paper adheres to the required format, be it APA, MLA, Chicago/Turabian, or Harvard. Properly cite all your sources to avoid plagiarism.

In sum, writing a research paper on A Rose for Emily is an opportunity to delve deep into Faulkner’s mesmerizing world. With methodical preparation, rigorous analysis, and a passion for the narrative, your paper can capture the essence of the story and offer fresh insights that resonate with readers. Remember, every literary exploration is a journey – savor the process, and let your insights illuminate Faulkner’s timeless narrative.

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132 A Rose for Emily Essay Topics & Examples

🏆 best a rose for emily essay prompts & examples, 📌 good a rose for emily essay prompts, 👍 simple & easy a rose for emily essay topics, 🎓 most interesting a rose for emily essay topics, ❓ a rose for emily essay questions.

If you struggle to write a character analysis, essay, or even a sole thesis statement for A Rose for Emily, this article will be helpful. Our experts have gathered titles so that you can explore the story’s symbolism, isolation, death, and more.

Tip #1. Select your topic.

A professor may assign a certain topic. In this case, think about the type of your future paper: whether it is a critical review or literary analysis.

Understanding the essay type will help you narrow your research focus. In case you can choose A Rose for Emily essay topics on your own, you’ll have to do a little more work.

You must brainstorm ideas and pick up the one that you find interesting. You can use IvyPanda paper samples as a source of inspiration.

Tip #2. Outline your ideas.

The next step in your writing is an organisation of your thoughts. You can use mind mapping tools or simply put your thoughts to paper. This exercise will allow you to organize A Rose for Emily essay ideas and key arguments into the logical flow.

Tip #3. Compose A Rose for Emily thesis statement.

The next step after you have chosen a topic, you need to master a thesis statement. It should state the topic and provide your point of view.

Tip #4. Write the essay body.

You may say that the introduction should come first in the paper. Although, we suggest you to write the body.

Each paragraph must start with an introductory sentence where you point the issue you’re going to discuss in it. Then add supporting arguments and examples. Divide each idea into a separate section.

Tip #5. Write A Rose for Emily essay introduction.

After you’ve mastered the thesis and body of your essay, it’s time to write an intro. Here’re some essentials you must know when composing it: first, start with an attention grabbing hook.

Then reveal your thesis statement. As an attention grabber you can use a quote or a story. Make sure it connects with your thesis statement.

Tip #6. Write A Rose for Emily essay conclusion.

In conclusion, you should sum up all the ideas you represented in the essay. Write three to five strong sentences that review key points and restate your thesis statement.

Tip #7. Add finishing touches.

The final stage of essay writing is a revision. Read your essay once or twice and pay attention to the small details: the paragraph order; grammar, punctuation and spelling mistakes, etc. Check if the paper meets all the instructions and the chosen citation style fits the requirements.

At this step you may want to add a few phrases or sentences for a better connection of your thoughts and ideas.

Ask your somebody to proofread the essay in case you might miss any mistake.

That’s all. Seven simple steps will help you to write an A+ paper. Now you know how to compose your essay.

Do you find yourself wondering what you can discuss in A Rose for Emily essay? Grab some sample topic questions below:

What is the role of the southern storytelling style in the story?
Does the non-chronological order of story affect readers’ perception? How?
How does the author build suspense? Is it effective?
Why did the murderer of Homer Barron remain unknown until Emily’s death?
Analyze the portrayal of social structure of the South in the book. How does Faulkner describe changes in the early twentieth century?

If you want more helpful samples and suggestions to help you achieve your best, check our website!

Importance of Point of View in “A Rose for Emily” On the one hand, it depends on the person who is telling the story; on the other hand, it is determined by the level of the narrator’s awareness.
William Faulkner’s “A Rose for Emily” Reaction Paper In this reaction paper to one of the most prominent Faulkner’s works, I attempt to describe and analyze the strategies that the author used to make this conflict acute and sympathetic to the reader.
Critique for ‘A Rose for Emily’ The focus of this paper is to analyze the article, A Romance to Kill For: Homicidal Complicity in Faulkner’s “A Rose for Emily” published in the journal of Studies in Short Fiction in terms of […]
“A Rose for Emily” by W. Faulkner: Symbolism and Themes In “A Rose for Emily,” the theme of adapting to the changing environment is developed through the character of Miss Grierson and her reluctance to the changes.
“A Rose for Emily” by William Faulkner: The Last Paragraph Although he uses the aspect of foreshadowing to relate to the tragic end of the story, the final paragraph comes as a shock to the reader.
The Symbolism of the House in “A Rose for Emily” by Faulkner The author identifies the decaying symbolism of the house in the text through the author’s constant mentions of dust, which fills the Griersons’ mansion: “faint and invisible dust dry and acrid in the nostrils”.
Nobility vs. Femininity: Overcoming Gender Norms in Faulkner’s “A Rose for Emily” The plot of the story follows the life and death of a Southern woman Emily Grierson, mostly in the period after the Civil War.
A Rose for Emily A rose for Emily is one of the books that is rich in styles that are employed to bring a clear picture of the theme story.
Social Picture of US Southern Society: “A Rose for Emily” by William Faulkner In the short story, Faulkner portrays that the beginning of the 1900s was marked by great social and economic changes but many people fail to accommodate their life to new social relations and a new […]
A Rose for Emily: Faulkner’s Short Story vs. Chubbuck’s Film Curry believed that the “stylistics of Faulkner’s language…serves to subordinate Emily, ostensibly the subject of the tale, and to elevate the town as the truer subject”.
A Rose for Emily and The Yellow Wallpaper: Compare & Contrast That is one of the main dangers that people should be aware of. This is one of the main points that can be made.
Emily Grierson in “A Rose for Emily” by William Faulkner The character of Emily Grierson in William Faulkner’s short story, “A Rose for Emily”, leaves the reader in dilemma as to whether Emily is the protagonist or the antagonist.
Faulkner’s “A Rose for Emily”: Discussion and Analysis The author emphasizes the theme of gender roles and their perception in the story of Emily and the rest of the town.
A Rose for Emily: A Short Story by William Faulkner However, in the course of the third part of the story, Faulkner quickly shifts from Miss Emily and Homer conjuring up some form of a relationship to discussing her purchasing the poison.
Plot Means in “A Rose for Emily” by William Faulkner The frozen in time quality of the setting, combined with the images of “coquettish decay,” underscore Miss Emily Grierson’s inability to free herself from the memory of her father and of the past.
“A Rose for Emily” by Faulkner In conclusion, A Rose for Emily is an excellent example of the Southern Gothic genre. A Rose for Emily illustrates the Southern Gothic genre by reating it to Homer’s murder.
Protagonist’s Choices in Faulkner’s A Rose for Emily Arguably, Emily’s actions and choices in life are wrong and in contrast to the social expectations because of the impact her overly controlling and manipulative father had on her early upbringing.
Faulkner’s A Rose for Emily and Wright’s The Man Who Was Almost a Man William Faulkner’s A Rose for Emily, set in Jefferson during the decades preceding and following the start of the twentieth century, depicts how an innocent girl, Emily Grierson, is driven to madness.
The Lost Cause Interpretation of Faulkner’s “A Rose for Emily” Another interesting feature of the story is the couple of main topics of the work: the changes in the South and societal issues in general.
William Faulkner’s “A Rose for Emily” and the Confederacy The third element of the Lost Cause myth is that the Confederacy was lost as a result of the high numerical that the Northern states had.
Gender Roles in “A Rose for Emily”: Quotation Analysis This quote can be used to emphasize how detached from the human essence and, accordingly, the gender of Miss Emily is reflected by the author.
O’Brien’s The Things They Carried and Faulkner’s A Rose for Emily It further assesses the impact of the mode in which the information in the books is arranged compared to if it were set in a sequential manner.
Faulkner’s “A Rose for Emily” as Gothic Romance In the story, the reader can share the experience of necrophilia and explore the components of decay by observing Emily who plays a dual part as both the subject and the object of necrophilia.
“A Rose for Emily” by Faulkner and “Those Who Walk Away From Omelas” by Le Guin In a way, the narrator serves as a guide in the made-up city that seems utopian until the readers find out about the child suffering in the basement and guaranteeing the happiness of everybody else […]
Faulkner’s “A Rose for Emily”: Emily Grierson Characteristics The death of her father comes as a relief to her. Society wants her to live in the past that is already behind her.
The Use of Symbolic Meaning in “A Rose for Emily” by Faulkner Losing her hair is a tragedy for a woman, and this symbol is also an implication of Emily’s life tragedy as she loses her love and has a life of wasting. Also, Emily isolated herself […]
“A Rose for Emily” by Faulkner, “The Handsomest Man Drowned in the World” by Marques, and “Cathedral” by Carver Initially, it seems to them that this is just some see animal or even whale though later they understand that this is the body of a human being.
William Faulkner: Symbols in the Narrative of “A Rose for Emily” In the first place, the family house where Emily and her deceased father lived is one of the central symbolic images of the story.
Themes and Writing Styles in “A Rose for Emily” and “The House on Mango Street” The House on Mango Street is a work of fiction, but the author breaks the conventional rules of form and plot.
Women’s Character in Hurston’s “Sweat” and Faulkner’s “A Rose for Emily” The theme of the story is to present the character of a “lady” and her behavior in society, her actions, and justifications for them.
Miss Emily Grierson’s Character Analysis: “A Rose for Emily” by William Faulkner Her assumed insanity was to be expected after all the things she has endured the loss of a mother while growing up, the death of a father, the sudden loss of a charmed way of […]
A Rose for Emily Literary Analysis To gain an understanding of the story within a brief analysis, it is necessary to examine the story’s plot, characterization, point of view, theme, symbols, and setting.
“A Rose for Emily” and “Letter of John Rolfe” An illustration to explain that this is nonfiction is the fact that it states, “This is a copy of the gentleman’s letters to Sir Thomas Dale.
Binary Opposition in Faulkner’s “A Rose for Emily” To transmit the message, Faulkner uses three binary oppositions: death life, the old the new, and the North the South. In this passage, Emily is compared to the soldiers who fell in the Civil War […]
A Rose for Emily by Faulkner: Garrison’s Analysis In his examination of the story “A Rose for Emily,” Garrison presents an entirely different method of examination as compared to previous critiques of the story wherein he focuses on the way in which the […]
A Rose for Emily and A Good Man Is Hard to Find In order to highlight this idea, the writers focus on the values and worldviews of the characters who prefer to live in the imaginary world of their past.
“A Rose for Emily” and “The Snows of Kilimanjaro” Having started with the announcement of her death, the author then reveals the main facts of her life from the point of view of the community of the city.
Grotesque in “A Rose for Emily” by W. Faulkner One of the most appealing aspects of William Faulkner’s short story A Rose for Emily is that the readers’ exposure to the main character of Emily Grierson provides them with a better understanding of what […]
Literature Studies: William Faulkner’s A Rose for Emily The author focuses on the life of Emily Grierson who once belonged to the Southern aristocracy; however, she is forced to adjust to the changes that American society underwent. This is one of the main […]
“A Rose for Emily” by William Faulkner: A Thought-Provoking Novel First of all, the author enables the readers to feel the atmosphere of the American South after the end of the Civil War.
Character Analysis of A Rose for Emily by William Faulkner This essay discusses the character of the Townspeople with regard to the development of the themes and plot of the story.
A Rose for Emily and The Guest After such an examination, a comparison will be done with the character of the Arab with the climax of the examination of the character culminating in the scene involving the 1,000 francs and the decision […]
Aspect of Human Experience Faulkner presents death in the story through death-haunted life of Emily. Emily also refuses to acknowledge the death of Homer, though she was responsible for his death.
Relationships in the Small Town: “A Rose for Emily” by William Faulkner In this passage, close to the end of the short story A Rose for Emily, and at the end of Miss Emily’s life as an eccentric figure in the life of the town, Faulkner literally […]
Social Victimization in “A Rose for Emily” by William Faulkner This is because it was namely the fact that, ever since her early years Emily was indoctrinated to believe that she had no other option but to live up to the expectations of her traditionally […]
The Voice of Faulkner The death of Addie is also one of the dark and disturbing components of the narration. The end of the story illustrates that the entire piece has been a flashback since it talks about the […]
Stylistic Devices in “A Rose for Emily” by William Faulkner One of the stylistic devices employed by Faulkner in the story A Rose for Emily is the use of the third person plural point of view of course through hearsay.
Solitude as a Theme in The Yellow Wallpaper & A Rose for Emily She is an embodiment of a great breakthrough in the fact that she rediscovers her new energy and point of view.
William Faulkner and His Rose for Emily A Rose for Emily is the story that is characterized by numerous critical opinions: readers found the story interesting, unusual, and educative; and critics tried to admit as many negative or weak points as possible […]
The Virtue of Moving Forward in “A Rose for Emily” by William Faulkner The misery of those who are unable to accept the reality and to get free from the influence of the past is the main theme of William Faulkner’s short story “A Rose for Emily”, where […]
The Fear of Change and Abandonment in “A Rose for Emily” by William Faulkner
The Symbol of Emily’s House in “A Rose for Emily” by William Faulkner
The Spirit Power of Women in an Act of Vengeance by Isabel Allende and “A Rose for Emily” by William Faulkner
The Theme of Appearance Versus Reality in “A Rose for Emily” by William Faulkner
The Undying Love for Emily in William Faulkner’s “A Rose for Emily”
The Signs of Poverty, Neglect, and Stubbornness in “A Rose for Emily” by William Faulkner
The Use of Gothic Elements in “A Rose for Emily” by William Faulkner
The Psychosis of Emily Grierson in “A Rose for Emily” by William Faulkner
The Struggles With Depression and Uncontrollable Changes in William Faulkner’s “A Rose for Emily”
The Use of Symbolism in “A Rose for Emily” by William Faulkner
The Concept of Conflict Between the New and the Old in “A Rose for Emily” by William Faulkner
An Analysis of the Archetypes in “A Rose for Emily” by William Faulkner
Theme of Death in William Faulkner’s “A Rose for Emily”
The Attempts of Emily to Stop the Passage of Time in “A Rose for Emily” by William Faulkner
The Crime of Love in “A Rose for Emily” by William Faulkner
The Portrayal of the Passing in William Faulkner’s “A Rose for Emily”
The Value of Human Relationship and the Effects of a Loss on a Person’s Outlook in Life in “A Rose for Emily”
The Use of the Role of Male Figure in “A Rose for Emily”
The Vicious Cycle of Control in “A Rose for Emily” by William Faulkner
The Use of Personality Traits to Foreshadow in Faulkner’s “A Rose for Emily”
The Conflict Between the Older and Younger Generations During a Time for Change in the South in “A Rose for Emily”
The Mystery of the Rose and the Narrator in “A Rose for Emily” by Faulkner
An Analysis of Plot Synchronicity in “A Rose for Emily” by William Faulkner
The Use of First Person Minor Point of View in “A Rose for Emily” by William Faulkner
The Masterful Use of Language in “A Rose for Emily” by William Faulkner
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Use of Symbolism in “A Rose for Emily” by William Faulkner
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The Symbolic Meaning of Emily in “A Rose for Emily” by William Faulkner
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The Theme of Self-Isolation and Symbolism of Rose in “A Rose for Emily” by William Faulkner
The Tragedies of War as Explained in William Faulkner’s “A Rose for Emily”
The Use of Time to Enhance Details of the Setting in “A Rose for Emily” by William Faulkner
Why Emily Committed Murder: Faulkner’s “A Rose for Emily”
The Pursuit of Love: The Portrayal of Women in “A Rose for Emily”
The Elements Used to Produce the Character of Emily in William Faulkner’s “A Rose for Emily”
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The Weaknesses and Insecurities of Emily in “A Rose for Emily” by William Faulkner
The Use of the Same Setting in “A Rose for Emily” by William Faulkner
The Peculiar Style of the Short Story “A Rose for Emily” by William Faulkner
What Details Support That Faulkner Uses Symbolism in “A Rose for Emily”?
Why Did Emily From “A Rose for Emily” Buy Arsenic?
What Is Important About the Title of the Short Story “A Rose for Emily”?
What Are the Conflicts in “A Rose for Emily”?
How Does William Faulkner Reveal Character in “A Rose for Emily”?
How Do the Themes in “A Rose for Emily” Relate to the Plot and Characters?
What Is the Role of Wife and Mother in “A Rose for Emily”?
What Is Significant About the Gray Hair at the End of “A Rose for Emily”?
What Is the Metaphor in “A Rose for Emily”?
What Is the Central/Primary Purpose of “A Rose for Emily”?
How Essential Is the Setting to the Story “A Rose for Emily”?
What Is the Role of Women in “A Rose for Emily”?
What Mental Illness Did Emily Have In “A Rose for Emily”?
How Do the Symbols in “A Rose for Emily” Relate to the Plot and Characters?
What Is the Moral Lesson of “A Rose for Emily”?
Is Emily From “A Rose for Emily” a Victim or a Predator?
What Is the Main Problem in “A Rose for Emily”?
Does Any Uncertainty Remain in “A Rose for Emily”?
What Is Emily’s Place in the Socio-Economic Structure of ‘“A Rose for Emily”?
What Is the Conclusion in “A Rose for Emily”?
What Is the Author’s Purpose of “A Rose for Emily”?
What Is the Relationship Between Miss Emily and Her Father in “A Rose for Emily”?
Is Emily’s Father to Blame for Insanity in “A Rose for Emily”?
What Are Literary Devices in “A Rose for Emily”?
What Causes the Smell Around Emily’s House in “A Rose for Emily”?
What Are the Elements in the Story of “A Rose for Emily”?
What Are the Multiple Meanings for the “Rose” in “A Rose for Emily”?
Who Is the Antagonist in “A Rose for Emily”?
What Kind of Language Does the Author Use in “A Rose for Emily”?
What Kind of Narrator Is the Character Who Tells Miss Emily’s Story From “A Rose for Emily”?
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Psychoanalytical Interpretation of William Faulkner's A Rose for Emily
This paper brings out the responsible defense mechanisms and psychoanalytical reasons behind one's necrophilia and shows the impact of capitalist patriarchal oppression on human psychology through ...
A Rose for Emily
A Rose for Emily Research Paper. "A Rose for Emily" was first published in 1931 by an American writer; William Faulkner.it is a fictional work that is based on a city called Jefferson in Mississippi in Yoknapatawpha County. The story is about Emily, the daughter of Mr. Grierson, a once prosperous Jefferson businessman.
An Analysis on Rose in A Rose for Emily
Abstract. A Rose for Emily is the first published short story of William Faulkner, which talks about a. tragic life of an elderly Southern woman Emily Grierson. In the whole story, the none rose ...
Character Analysis of A Rose For Emily
A Rose for Emily is one of Faulkner's most excellent short novels. Besides, the narrative of spaces in this novel is changeable and subtle, and the research on it has always been both difficult ...
Analysis of William Faulkner's A Rose for Emily
Initially published in Forum on April 30, 1930, and collected in These Thirteen in 1931, "A Rose for Emily" remains one of William Faulkner's most read, most anthologized, and most significant stories. From every imaginable perspective, critics have scrutinized the components of Faulkner's literary technique: The story has been viewed as an allegory of southern…
A Rose for Emily
interest. "A Rose for Emily" has become one of Faulkner's most analyzed. stories and with some hundred articles devoted to it, there is little encourage- ment for further interpretation: there may even be good reason for not inter-. preting the story any more-at least in traditional terms of character and.
A Rose for Emily Sample Essay Outlines
I. Thesis Statement: William Faulkner uses "A Rose for Emily" to comment on how the South, at its own peril, is refusing to accept the inevitability of historical and social change. If the ...
Literature in Context
233 A ROSE for Emily BY William Faulkner I. When Miss Emily Grierson died, our whole town went to her 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 Negro manservant -- a combined gardener and cook -- had seen in at least ten years.
A Summary and Analysis of William Faulkner's 'A Rose for Emily'
By Dr Oliver Tearle (Loughborough University) 'A Rose for Emily' is a short story by William Faulkner, originally published in Forum in 1930 before being collected in Faulkner's collection, These Thirteen, the following year.The story concerns an unmarried woman living in the American South who attracts the concern and suspicion of the townspeople after her father dies and she becomes ...
"A Rose for Emily": The Dichotomy of a Rose
Written in the prime of the feminist movement, ―A Rose for Emily‖ portrays a character caught between identities: the masculine and the feminine, the past and the present, the passive and the active. Going from subject to object and back again throughout the narrative, Miss Emily Grierson is the embodiment of the rose her creator ...
PDF An Analysis of Emily's Characters in A Rose for Emily from the
This paper attempts to interpret A Rose for Emily from a narrative style, to explore how Faulkner constructed the narrative of the novel, and then to analyze the characters of Emily in the novel. Index Terms—A Rose for Emily, narrative style, narrative perspective, female image. I. INTRODUCTION William Faulkner, who won the Nobel Prize for ...
The South is Wilting
A Rose for Emily. Directed by Lyndon Cubbuck. Performances by Anjelica Husto, John Randolph and John Carradine. Chubbuck Production Company, 1983. Faulkner, William. "A Rose for Emily." McDougal Littell Literature: American Literature. Ed. Applebee et al. 6th ed. Evanston, IL: McDougal Littell, 2008. 1064-1077. Gone with the Wind.
A Rose for Emily Study Guide
Extra Credit for A Rose for Emily. A Rose for the Title. Readers will notice that, though the story is entitled "A Rose for Emily," Emily never receives a rose. Faulkner explained in an interview: "Oh, that was an allegorical title: the meaning was, here was a woman who had had a tragedy, an irrevocable tragedy and nothing could be done ...
William Faulkner: A Rose for Emily. Summary and analysis
Summary of "A Rose for Emily". "A Rose for Emily," a work by William Faulkner, a prominent author in American literature, initially published in 1930, is a story that delves into the themes of decline, isolation and resistance to change. The story, narrated by an unidentified observer, takes place in a Southern town and centers on the ...
A Rose for Emily Research Paper Topics
This article introduces an exhaustive list of A Rose for Emily research paper topics, segmented into diverse categories for a tailored academic exploration.Delving into the intricate layers of Faulkner's masterpiece, A Rose for Emily offers students a myriad of research avenues. From understanding its thematic richness to the story's historical and socio-cultural context, the proposed A ...
A Rose for Emily Research Papers
This term paper aims to study the mystery and plot in "A Rose for Emily" by William Faulkner. In the pursuit of exploring mystery and plot in this unique short story, I will elaborate the story, plot and mysterious events that will make us know more about this extra ordinary work of art.
Miss Emily Grierson's Psychopathy in William Faulkner's "A Rose for
This paper probes Miss Emily's psychological disorder from a psychoanalytical perspective and attempts to show that, deeply scrutinized, the lady's psychopathic traits and her overwhelming silence ...
A Rose for Emily Research Paper
A Rose for Emily Research Paper. Name of professor: Jarvis. Course. Writing II: Foundations Of Research Writing (FCWR 151) 26 Documents. Students shared 26 documents in this course. ... Love, Death and Heartbreak The story "A Rose for Emily", written by William Faulkner, is a story about a young girl named Emily who experiences different ...
PDF Female Gaze in "a Rose for Emily"
Emily, Patriarchy, Gaze, Feminism, Androgyny . Abstract: As one of Faulkner's most famous works, A Rose for Emily" has profound literary " value and ideological connotation. This paper will discuss the novel from the perspective of feminist criticism. It will focus on the analysis of Emily's female gaze, and analyze the gender, " "
Analysis of A Rose for Emily from Feminist Perspective
This paper aims to aler t. the world to learn and promote feminism and establish a harmonious society with equality between men and women. Only in this way can we promote the establishment of a ...
PDF A Rose for Emily by William Faulkner
yon portrait of Miss Emily's father.They rose when she entered--a small, fat woman in black, with a thin gold chain descending to her waist and vanishing into her belt, leaning on an e. ony cane with a tarnished gold head. Her skeleton was small and spare; perhaps that was why what would have been merely plu.
132 A Rose for Emily Essay Topics & Examples
William Faulkner's "A Rose for Emily" Reaction Paper. In this reaction paper to one of the most prominent Faulkner's works, I attempt to describe and analyze the strategies that the author used to make this conflict acute and sympathetic to the reader. "A Rose for Emily" by W. Faulkner: Symbolism and Themes.

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