The Old and the New in William Faulkners A Rose for Emily
The difficulty of change becomes a focal point in William Faulkner'sshort story, "A Rose for Emily." Faulkner conveys dark moods and elementsof surprise in a seemingly simple story about an eccentric old lady whorefuses to let go of the past. The story of Emily becomes a testament tothe difficulty one encounters when faced with change. Faulkner combinesimagery, symbolism, and language to illustrate the vast difference betweenthe Old South that Emily lived in and the new emerging traditions following Faulkner utilizes the techniques of imagery to draw attention to thedifference that exists between the past and the present in Emily. Forexample, very early in the story we are told that the men in town attendedher funeral "through a sort of respectful affection for a fallen monument"(Faulkner 451). This image reminds represents how Emily served as a typeof monument to the old traditions that belonged to the south before the Emily's house is also used as a symbol that represents a contrastbetween the past and the present. Many images embody death and decay. Thenarrator tells us that the house was once white but now tells us it smells
Schwab says: The watch's placement in her pocket, its unusually loud ticking, and the chain to which it is attached illustrate both her attempts to control the passage of the years and the consequences of such an ultimately futile effort. Schwabpoints out that because Emily's watch is not visible, yet it is heard, is asymbol of Emily avoiding the reality of time. Additionally, when her father's deathleft her alone and a pauper as well, they were glad. How she relates to himdemonstrates a woman who cannot accept the progression of time. These images coincide with the dark and depressing mood thatpermeates from Emily's house. Regardless, Emily does not, however, change her perspective of herselfafter her father's death. To further emphasize Emily's waning appearance, the narrator allows ussee how she changes with time. Instead,they are the acts of a desperate woman who will do almost anything to keepwhat she wants. It is a constant reminder that timeis passing, but Emily refuses to acknowledge that fact. In conclusion, William Faulkner utilizes the techniques of imagery,symbolism, and language to draw contrasts between the old southern ways andthe new ways that Jefferson was accepting. It also suggests her fragile state of mind. The event "humanized"(454) Emily and the narrator says, "Now she too would know the old thrilland the old despair of a penny more or less" (454). His importance does not stop her from behaving in a selfish,inhumane way. This is certainly quite a position and if we are to agree with the factthat Emily is indeed a product of her environment, then the narrator is theperfect symbol for the type of environment in which Emily lived. Finally, Faulkner uses thenarrator and his or her language in a way that emphasizes the ideas of theold south and the ideas of the new south.
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