A Rose for Emily
William Faulkner's short story, "A Rose for Emily" is a comparison of the past to the present. Emily is a picture of the past, a monument that had "fallen" in death. The town itself is the symbol of "the next generation, with its more modern ideas." The story begins at the end of Emily's life, her funeral. The narrator, a townsperson, tells the story by connections, where one thought triggers another as opposed to a chronological viewpoint. When the narrator mentions Miss Emily as a "sort of hereditary obligation" it prompts the memory of the past when Colonel Sartoris remitted her taxes. As generations of alderman change, so do the town standards, and in attempt to collect these taxes, a dispute arises. With this difference of opinion, we get our first indication of Emily's character. Her home was dimly lit and dusty with a damp smell. She was pale and obese, "bloated, like a body long submerged in motionless water, and of that pallid hue." Her persona matched that of her dark house, "her eyes, lost in the fatty ridges of her face, looked
" When the town brought in Homer Barron to do town renovations, we see a little of Emily's social side. " The town in their gossip immediately assumed that "She will kill herself. " Emily had been abandoned by her father and we are left to assume that she could not handle being left again. She was born a noble woman, and therefore society could not accept her going below her standards a having relationship with Homer. " There was no discussion, no debate to her. She was just as defiant when her father died. " and sent the Baptist minister to confront her. ] The ladies of the town said, "it was a disgrace to the town. After the funeral, the town opened a "room. A historical approach with the view of cultural criticism can be seen in this story. above the stairs which no one had seen in forty years, and which would have to be forced. She reappeared once more for a period of six to seven years and taught china painting.
Common topics in this essay:
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Acceptance Essays
