Sybolism in A Rose for Emily
In the short story, "A Rose for Emily" by William Faulkner, symbolism is used frequently throughout the story. There are several different symbolic subjects in this story such as the house, Miss Emily as a "monument," Homer and the "Yankee" views, and Miss Emily's old Negro servant who represents death in the story. Miss Emily is compared to her house in many different ways, there is the description of the decaying house which symbolizes Miss Emily's physical and emotional decay, and as well as her mental problems. The representation between Miss Emily and the house is shown through the constant neglect that is given to her from the neighbors and people in the town. Faulkner in one point makes, the house is described to be "stubborn and unrelenting," as Miss Emily portrays the same aspects. Miss Emily shows her stubbornness when she doesn't let the new guard attach metal numbers above her door. Also many other signs of this stubbornness is when Miss Emily refuses to believe that her father is dead and when she refuses to pay taxes. This retracts back to the house on how it rejects progression and updating, so does Miss Emily, as they become decaying symbols of their dying generation. Miss Emily really is representing the "Old So
As Homer Barron symbolizes the new generation Miss Emily doesn't want to lose to the new generation and her love so she buys the arsenic. The Old South generations were dying quickly by the changing in traditions and to the town. Homer became the irony for Emily and she didn't want that to happen as she had strong feelings for him so she killed him and kept the corpse in her bed. Faulkner used the servant to introduce death to Miss Emily and what she did to Homer Barron. She refused to believe that the times where changing and refused to change into the new society like everyone else in the town was doing. Symbolism is very important throughout the story, and plays one of the biggest roles in the essential meaning of the entire story. "A Rose for Emily" contains many examples of strong symbolism, which is thoroughly spread and revealed throughout the entire story. Miss Emily didn't want to show to the town that she was defenseless; she wanted to show that she knew her rights, even though the new generation was moving in. That's where she gets her stubbornness and attitude from the strong characteristics of her Southern heritage. Homer Barron is the representation of the Yankee attitude toward the Griersons and also toward the entire South. Miss Emily is considered a "monument" of the Southern manners and her past values that she has. With the relationship between Miss Emily and Homer Barron, his name shows irony because he is the new generation coming into the town. Faulkner uses Homer Barron to bring in the new generation and the irony against Miss Emily and this shows why Miss Emily took the tasks that she did to try and keep the Southern heritage alive and not let the new generation move into her city. Homer Barron was from the North and he represented the next generation and Miss Emily wasn't all about new traditions.
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Acceptance Essays
