A Rose for Emily
Contrast of Emily’s Refusal or Inability to Change
Miss Emily Grierson, the main character in the short story, “A Rose for Emily,” by William Faulkner, was raised sheltered and over-protected from society by her father. Miss Emily wasn’t allowed to get close to anyone including her own family because of a falling out over her late Aunt Wyatt’s estate. When Miss Emily’s father died she could not accept it. The town discovered Miss Emily had kept her father 's dead body at the dinner table for three days after his death. She told them that her father was not dead (Faulkner 32). Miss Emily unconsciously began associating change with loss after the death of her father. An example of Emily 's refusal to change would be her old fashioned ways.
After the death of Miss Emily’s father, the townspeople rarely saw Miss Emily leave her home. The first time we hear of her appearance is when the narrator describes her as a small, fat woman in black (Faulkner 30). Miss Emily 's second appearance is discussed when the narrator states, When we saw her again her hair was cut short, making her look like a girl (Faulkner 32). Miss Emily tries to control change in every aspect of her life, but the one thing she cannot change is her appearance. Another reality Miss Emily is avoiding to change is the idea of paying taxes. Miss Emily 's refusal to change is made known when she tells the sheriff, I have no taxes in Jefferson (Faulkner 30). Miss Emily had grown accustomed to not paying taxes, and when confronted she had her manservant Tobe to escort the sheriff out of her home.
Later, Miss Emily begins courting a laborer by the name of Homer Barron who was from the north. Homer Barron becomes a rose to Emily although it was well known in the small town of Jefferson, where Miss Emily resided, that Homer was homosexual and openly discussed his affinity for young men. Just as Miss Emily’s father tried to keep her all to himself, so did Miss Emily towards Homer Barron when she poisoned
Miss Emily Grierson, the main character in the short story, “A Rose for Emily,” by William Faulkner, was raised sheltered and over-protected from society by her father. Miss Emily wasn’t allowed to get close to anyone including her own family because of a falling out over her late Aunt Wyatt’s estate. When Miss Emily’s father died she could not accept it. The town discovered Miss Emily had kept her father 's dead body at the dinner table for three days after his death. She told them that her father was not dead (Faulkner 32). Miss Emily unconsciously began associating change with loss after the death of her father. An example of Emily 's refusal to change would be her old fashioned ways.
After the death of Miss Emily’s father, the townspeople rarely saw Miss Emily leave her home. The first time we hear of her appearance is when the narrator describes her as a small, fat woman in black (Faulkner 30). Miss Emily 's second appearance is discussed when the narrator states, When we saw her again her hair was cut short, making her look like a girl (Faulkner 32). Miss Emily tries to control change in every aspect of her life, but the one thing she cannot change is her appearance. Another reality Miss Emily is avoiding to change is the idea of paying taxes. Miss Emily 's refusal to change is made known when she tells the sheriff, I have no taxes in Jefferson (Faulkner 30). Miss Emily had grown accustomed to not paying taxes, and when confronted she had her manservant Tobe to escort the sheriff out of her home.
Later, Miss Emily begins courting a laborer by the name of Homer Barron who was from the north. Homer Barron becomes a rose to Emily although it was well known in the small town of Jefferson, where Miss Emily resided, that Homer was homosexual and openly discussed his affinity for young men. Just as Miss Emily’s father tried to keep her all to himself, so did Miss Emily towards Homer Barron when she poisoned
Cited: Kennedy, X. & Gioia D. "A Rose for Emily." Literature: An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, Drama and Writing. 11th ed. N.p.: Pearson Education, n.d. 29-35. Print. Kurtz, Elizabeth Carney. "Faulkner 's “A Rose for Emily”. Explicator. Heldref Publications. 44.2 (1986): 40. Academic Search Complete. Blinn College, Bryan, Lib. 12 May 2014