William Faulkner's A Rose For Emily
A depiction of William Faulkner’s A Rose for Emily
ENGL 1102
February 2012
William Faulkner’s fictional short story, “A Rose for Emily”, from The Collected Stories of William Faulkner (1950,) displays the daily struggles of a troubled woman named Emily Grierson. Emily was raised by her father and adapted his stubborn unwillingness to move forward with society’s continuously changing direction; Emily became trapped in her father’s ways. This entrapment led to a disconnection between Emily and present day society of the story. The main character, Emily Grierson, is a distraught woman who is lost in the passage of time from generation to generation as a result of her relationship with her father, her perceived lover, and the town of Jefferson. …show more content…
When people would come to visit Emily to empathize with her for her loss, she showed no grief. In her mind, Emily believed her father was still alive. She even told her visitors that he was still alive, although they knew he was deceased. Emily protested her father was still alive, therefore, his body was allowed to remain in the home for three days before ministers and doctors were about to resort to law enforcement. Finally, Emily, “broke down and they buried her father quickly” (Faulkner, 86). In an attempt to maintain the family’s significant social status, the town of Jefferson held Emily in high regard because of her family’s social status. As their generation continued to grow older, a newer generation continued to press forward, but Emily was left behind in the transition. As a result, she became more distant and antisocial with …show more content…
Homer worked as a well-known foreman for a road construction company. In the eye’s of Emily’s father and society, Emily could not and would not be with Homer. Being that society placed the Grierson family on a high social pedestal and she was the last living Grierson, Emily should display a sense of “noblesse oblige” (Faulkner, 87). She was highly respected and should display the same highly regarded mannerisms. Even though the pressures of society were weighing on her shoulders, Emily fell in love with Homer. The couple was seen prancing around town and people gossiped behind her back saying she was a “disgrace to the town and a bad example” for the younger generation (Faulkner,
ENGL 1102
February 2012
William Faulkner’s fictional short story, “A Rose for Emily”, from The Collected Stories of William Faulkner (1950,) displays the daily struggles of a troubled woman named Emily Grierson. Emily was raised by her father and adapted his stubborn unwillingness to move forward with society’s continuously changing direction; Emily became trapped in her father’s ways. This entrapment led to a disconnection between Emily and present day society of the story. The main character, Emily Grierson, is a distraught woman who is lost in the passage of time from generation to generation as a result of her relationship with her father, her perceived lover, and the town of Jefferson. …show more content…
When people would come to visit Emily to empathize with her for her loss, she showed no grief. In her mind, Emily believed her father was still alive. She even told her visitors that he was still alive, although they knew he was deceased. Emily protested her father was still alive, therefore, his body was allowed to remain in the home for three days before ministers and doctors were about to resort to law enforcement. Finally, Emily, “broke down and they buried her father quickly” (Faulkner, 86). In an attempt to maintain the family’s significant social status, the town of Jefferson held Emily in high regard because of her family’s social status. As their generation continued to grow older, a newer generation continued to press forward, but Emily was left behind in the transition. As a result, she became more distant and antisocial with …show more content…
Homer worked as a well-known foreman for a road construction company. In the eye’s of Emily’s father and society, Emily could not and would not be with Homer. Being that society placed the Grierson family on a high social pedestal and she was the last living Grierson, Emily should display a sense of “noblesse oblige” (Faulkner, 87). She was highly respected and should display the same highly regarded mannerisms. Even though the pressures of society were weighing on her shoulders, Emily fell in love with Homer. The couple was seen prancing around town and people gossiped behind her back saying she was a “disgrace to the town and a bad example” for the younger generation (Faulkner,