A Rose for Emily Analysis

He began writing in 1919, although he rose to prominence between 1920 and 1930. His writing was rewarded in 1949 when he received the Nobel prize of literature in 1949. He is famously known for works such as A fable (authored in 1954) and the Reivers, which was published in 1962 and awarded the Pulitzer prize for fiction. Among the short stories published by Faulkner, A Rose for Emily remains the most famous. Summary of the Story The story revolves around the mystical life of Emily, who is born in a prominent family, whose fortunes dwindles with time. Essentially, the narrator provides his audience with a snippet view of how the story will end. Hence, readers come to appreciate how the death of the protagonist attracts the attention of the whole town.

Keen mourners desire to have a glimpse of the vast neighborhood, which once defined the grandeur of the colonial times. Within the first section of the story, readers acknowledge how the mayor of the city had favored Emily by ensuring that she does not pay taxes upon her father’s death. According to the mayor, the suspension of the tax duties was done in recognition of Mr. Further evidence for the townspeople to believe that Emily can become insane is when the women of the town decide to visit her to mourn with her the death of her father. She insists that her father is not dead. She remains in denial for three days before she hands over his body for burial (Faulkner 12).

In the third section, readers come to terms with the elongated illness that Emily suffers after the death of her father. This section opens the way for the emergence of Homer, whom the townspeople consider to be the protagonist’s suitor. Much details surface only after Emily dies at the age of 74 years. In the fifth and last section, more information regarding Emily’s life emerges upon her death. People have an opportunity to enter into her house, which is only accessed after forty years. When it is broken, the townspeople are shocked to find the body of Homer Barron. The Setting The story is set in a fictitious small town called Jefferson, located in the south, which became popular during the post-civil war years.

Thus, characters are unwilling to accept that times have changed, and feel that they can live in the past glory. Old cultural norms such as ladies coming to the house to grieve with Emily are envisaged. The setting of the story is meant to illustrate the changing times as Emily rebels against the standards that had been set by his family. Despite the fact that Emily would love to live the aristocrat life, it is difficult for her. The fact that she holds onto her father’s body indicates that she was not willing to let the glorious life to end. Besides, the aspect of dating Homer is an indication of rebelling against her father’s desires of getting married to an individual from the high class.

As a secretive character, Emily is able to hide the details of her life away from the glare of the public. When Homer disappears, nobody is able to know where he is. When she buys the arsenic poison, the readers believe that she wants to kill herself. Even when there exists a foul smell around her compound, nobody suspects that she may have killed Homer. Grierson, Tobe and Colonel Sartoris. Fundamentally, Homer Barron appears as a true aristocrat. His physical attributes as defined by the author makes him to be a domineering male. He has a strong voice, and appears bossy and demanding (Faulkner 19). However, as the story proceeds, readers discover him to be a weak man, who can easily be controlled by Emily.

The fact that Emily is unwilling to surrender her body for burial indicates that the father had a strong control on her. Colonel Sartoris is a former mayor of the town of Jefferson. He plays a critical role in absolving Emily of any tax responsibility upon the death of his father. In this regard, he is a trustworthy individual, who seeks to favor Emily due to the generosity of her father to the community. The fact that the mayor’s predecessor does not offer a similar gesture to Emily indicated that his benevolence is rare. The fact that she is also in denial concerning the death of her father for three days indicate that she is not willing to embrace the reality.

A significant change can also be envisaged through the end of the glorious days associated with the splendor of the Grierson aristocracy. The family was initially powerful, although their fortunes have diminished. While Emily’s father was alive, there existed many suitors who desired to marry her (Ruthmann 29). However, having attained the age of 30 years, Emily cannot find a man to marry, and can only get contented with Homer Barron. Conclusion “A Rose for Emily” is a tragedy story that illustrates the fate of the protagonist as she tries to live the vision of her father. Even after the death of Mr. Grierson, readers can witness an attempt by Emily to resist change as she refuses to shape her own life.

Faulkner also uses a lush writing style, giving lots of descriptions that help the reader create the scene in their mind in accurate detail. The story is set in an old house, constructed in 1861 and from it, Faulkner gives details of three generations, illustrating life’s fleeting nature and the permanence of the earth. Through a confessional and gossipy tone, Faulkner shows that Jefferson people care but still alienate Emily. Faulkner exploits the power of different literary styles to keep the reader engaged in the story that spans 132 years. The narrator in A Rose for Emily is a peripheral narrator, also known as the first person. The story deals with social issues such as the Stockholm syndrome, slavery, outdated ideas, and gossip.

The story also contains violence, such as when Emily uses rat poison to kill Barron for gossiping that the two of them had sex (Faulkner 4. The story is set in the south, indicated by people adorned in Confederate uniforms. There is also slavery and racism as well as decay demonstrated by the rotting of Barron’s body and the deterioration of Emily’s house. Faulkner uses a lush writing style, and uses a lot of descriptions in the story. The story addresses how future generations deal with the situation of their way of life changing. Faulkner uses a confessional and gossipy tone. The story’s narrator represents the voices and thoughts of the people of Jefferson. Through the narrator’s tone, Faulkner highlights the two extremes of the nature of Jefferson residents.