Rose For Emily-Theme,Symbolism
William Faulkner's central theme in the story "A Rose For Emily" is to "let go of the past." Emily Grierson has a tendency to cling to the past and has a reluctance to be independent. Faulkner uses symbols throughout the story to cloak an almost allegorical correlation to the reconstruction period of the South. Even these symbols are open to interpretation; they are the heart and soul of the story. With the literal meaning of Faulkner's story implies many different conclusions, it is primarily the psychological and symbolic aspects, which give the story meaning. Miss Emily cannot accept change to any degree. She is unable to ameliorate as the rest of the society does. The Old South is becoming the New South, and yet Emily still has a Negro man helping around the house. Her house "had once been white" and sits on what "had once been" a most select street, however now it is surrounded by cotton gins, garages, and gasoline pumps. This scene creates a sense of the house being "an eyesore among eyesores" (469). Another example of Miss Emily's ability to refuse change is when she does not allow a house number to be placed on her house when the town receives free postal service.
Since her father denies her the chance to court men, she has no chance to even fall in love. Although there are quite a few oppositions as to why Miss Emily should not be courting Homer, she holds her head high. " Miss Emily just stared at him, her head tilted back in order to look him eye for eye, until he looked away and went and got the arsenic and wrapped it up. "Do you suppose it's really so?" they said to one another. After the disappearance of Homer Barron, many of Miss Emily's neighbors began to complain about a bad smell coming from her house. They speak of how they courted and danced with Miss Emily when they were younger, although that is not the truth. It is no surprise when Miss Emily's father dies, she does not know what to do, "being left alone, and a pauper" (471). The fact that Miss Emily is dressed in white proves her purity. For many years, Emily must have lain next to him in an embrace. Another point is how Emily is in the background, further proving her submission towards her father. Shortly after, the Negro left the house and is never seen or heard from again. The Board of Aldermen meet, and the newer generation of people offered the idea of giving Miss Emily a date in which her house must be clean.
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Acceptance Essays
