In William Faulkner's short story A Rose for Emily, Miss Emily becomes despondent and inconsolable. Over the years of her life she becomes obstinate and compassionless. "Miss Emily, dating back in 1894, was thought to be a tradition, a duty, and a care; a sort of hereditary obligation upon the town" (245). After Miss Emily's father passed, Colonel Sartoris remitted her taxes. "The next generation with more modern ideas" (246) made many attempts to have Miss Emily pay her back taxes, however Miss Emily refused to pay her taxes, because Colonel Sartoris made it clear she had no taxes in Jefferson. Miss Emily had a sweetheart. Homer Barron, a construction for-man for the city of Jefferson, to build a new side walk, right outside Miss Emily's home. Miss Emily took a fancy to Homer the day she met him sometime after her father's death. Miss Emily and Homer were seen on many occasions together riding in horse and carriage. The isolation of Miss Emily is a result of her father's overbearing and domineering ways, her inner strength, and her affection for Homer Barron.
             Her father's over-protection is evident in this passage, "We remembered all the young men her father had driven away, and we knew that with nothing left, she would have to cling to that which had robbed her, as people will" (248). Her father robs her from many of life's necessities. She misses out on friends, being happy and a normal woman. Emily is not able to live a normal life, which she indirectly blames on her father. Emily is so used to having her father be there for her, she figures that by keeping his body he can still be part of her life.
             Throughout most of this story Emily Grierson gives the sense of strength. She shows strength when she rebuffs the men who come to collect her taxes. She seems to show strength even when the men are creeping around her house putting down lime to block out the smell, &...