"A Struggling Emily" In the story, "A Rose for Emily," by William Faulkner, Miss Emily Grierson's struggle with her family, her town, and herself makes her do things that are out of the "norm." Her struggle makes her act inhuman and deranged. Emily is a living a very sheltered life. Miss Emily struggles, in this story, with herself and the society around her. Emily Grierson became very heartless in the eyes of the reader and even a little demented all because of her sheltered lifestyle, closed environment and, conflict with the townspeople. She knew that the people of her town were talking about her. However, she ultimately let their gossip influence her life. Some think that Emily's actions were based on the townspeople's attitudes toward her. Others may say that her father shaped her actions. However, Emily's father, the townspeople, and even Emily herself shaped her motives. They were the driving forces behind Emily's action. This struggle between "an individual and the society that attempts to restrict her" (Brooks & Warren 158) would be unbearable for Miss Emily. This is what ultimately leads to her downfall. Through imagery and conflict, the reader can witness how all of this is true. As Faulkner begins this story, the reader quickly learns that this piece is going to be about death and dying. Not so much as physical death, although physical death is also apparent, but spiritual, mental, and social decay. The physical death is opened to the reader in the first line of this short story. The storyteller informs the reader by saying, "when Miss Emily Grierson died, our whole town went to the funeral..." Just by this line the reader wonders if the town was sad to see Miss Emily past away, or were they glad. Later in the story, the reader finds out that the townspeople were glad. However, not for the reason that one might imply. Because the first line of the book deal...