Decay and Deterioration in "A Rose for Emily"
"A Rose for Emily" was written by William Faulkner. This story was about a woman that had
been repressed by her father for many years and was not allowed to be with or around other men or
engage in many social interactions. When Emily's father finally passed away, she then fell in love with
Homer Barron. She was in love with him so much that she killed him and keep his body for many years
in her bed. I believe that her mental, social and physical deterioration took place over a long period of
Mental deterioration took place in Miss Emily's mind for years. Meaning from childhood to
her 30's, when her father passed away. The author stated "We remembered al the young men her
father had driven away, and we all knew that with nothing left, she would have to cling to that which
had robbed her, as people will". This statement bring me to my next point. She killed the only man that
loved her. This is definitely due to the decay of her mentally. It could also be hereditary. The story
stated that "People in our town, remembered how old lady Wyatt, her great-aunt, had gone completely
crazy at last, believed that the Griersons held themselves a little too high for what they really were".
Social deterioration has also taken place in Miss Emily's life for nearly her entire life. The
statement in my previous paragraph also contributed to her social decay. The text also stated that "only
sign of life about the place was the Negro man". Her servant ran all of her errands and got all of the
groceries. She stayed away from any other people that she had known except for her servant and a
Miss Emily's physical decay came from being locked in her house all day and all night. Not to
mention, it couldn't be to healthy to sleep beside a corpse for many years. She didn't get enough
exercise and fresh air. No one person can maintain a healthy body in th...