A Rose For Emily
In William Faulkner’s, A Rose For Emily, Faulkner illustrates a southern town that is rapidly changing to fit the times. Emily Grierson is an old fashioned woman who watches her town alter around her but, her tenacious attitude towards change prohibits her from adjusting to a new lifestyle. Faulkner portrays the change in the social structure of the American South in the early twentieth century with Homer Barron, Miss Emily’s house, and the townspeople.
Homer Barron was a dark haired, handsome, new man that came to town on a whirlwind and caused a stir. During the summer after Emily’s father’s death, a construction crew came to redo or insert sidewalks. The crew was very diverse including a man “named Homer Barron, a Yankee”(Faulkner). …show more content…
Although the house was very symbolic, it was an eyesore due to the condition is was kept. Emily’s house was rotting from the inside out; her house was infested with “dust” and multiple leathers inside the home were “cracked”(Faulkner). This portrays that if you do not adjust with the times, you will not make it. Emily’s furniture being filled with dust and deteriorating was a sign of how her life is unkept since she will not accept the social changing of the south. The house is rotting and not looked highly upon like it was at one time and neither is Emily. Emily’s refusal to change impacted her social life. Emily’s “front door remained closed”(Faulkner). Emily kept her door closed to people who did not believe in the same laws and morals as her. She shut herself away from the changing world by staying in the antique, never changing house. Emily was not exactly a “southern hospitality” …show more content…
Emily far before anything was discovered. They knew she did not want to adjust to the times due to her actions. Emily refused the “free postal Delivery” and refused to let the city council “attach” a Mailbox to her home(Faulkner). This shows Emily’s standpoint with the new south and how she is refusing to let anything change. Anything done differently than when her father was alive she does not want. This is an example of Miss. Emily believing that she is above the law and can do whatever she pleases. Emily’s house had a horrid smell and some men, trying to rid the smell, “slunk about the house like murderers” sprinkling lime to control the odor(Faulkner). In the old south, men would never be caught sneaking onto a single woman’s property without permission or late in the night. Emily did not approve of this act and she sat in a window and watched the men. The men did this with no idea what was actually causing the awful stench surrounding Miss. Emily’s home. Emily had not taxes, and when the townspeople heard about the family’s agreement they “Called a special meeting” about the Grierson taxes(Faulkner). Emily’s father had paid a donation to the town in return of not having to pay taxes for the remainder of his life. This deal was obviously made pre-war for things like that do not happen today and can result in jail time for not paying taxes! Emily refused to convert to the new southern ways and pay her taxes just
In William Faulkner’s, A Rose For Emily, Faulkner illustrates a southern town that is rapidly changing to fit the times. Emily Grierson is an old fashioned woman who watches her town alter around her but, her tenacious attitude towards change prohibits her from adjusting to a new lifestyle. Faulkner portrays the change in the social structure of the American South in the early twentieth century with Homer Barron, Miss Emily’s house, and the townspeople.
Homer Barron was a dark haired, handsome, new man that came to town on a whirlwind and caused a stir. During the summer after Emily’s father’s death, a construction crew came to redo or insert sidewalks. The crew was very diverse including a man “named Homer Barron, a Yankee”(Faulkner). …show more content…
Although the house was very symbolic, it was an eyesore due to the condition is was kept. Emily’s house was rotting from the inside out; her house was infested with “dust” and multiple leathers inside the home were “cracked”(Faulkner). This portrays that if you do not adjust with the times, you will not make it. Emily’s furniture being filled with dust and deteriorating was a sign of how her life is unkept since she will not accept the social changing of the south. The house is rotting and not looked highly upon like it was at one time and neither is Emily. Emily’s refusal to change impacted her social life. Emily’s “front door remained closed”(Faulkner). Emily kept her door closed to people who did not believe in the same laws and morals as her. She shut herself away from the changing world by staying in the antique, never changing house. Emily was not exactly a “southern hospitality” …show more content…
Emily far before anything was discovered. They knew she did not want to adjust to the times due to her actions. Emily refused the “free postal Delivery” and refused to let the city council “attach” a Mailbox to her home(Faulkner). This shows Emily’s standpoint with the new south and how she is refusing to let anything change. Anything done differently than when her father was alive she does not want. This is an example of Miss. Emily believing that she is above the law and can do whatever she pleases. Emily’s house had a horrid smell and some men, trying to rid the smell, “slunk about the house like murderers” sprinkling lime to control the odor(Faulkner). In the old south, men would never be caught sneaking onto a single woman’s property without permission or late in the night. Emily did not approve of this act and she sat in a window and watched the men. The men did this with no idea what was actually causing the awful stench surrounding Miss. Emily’s home. Emily had not taxes, and when the townspeople heard about the family’s agreement they “Called a special meeting” about the Grierson taxes(Faulkner). Emily’s father had paid a donation to the town in return of not having to pay taxes for the remainder of his life. This deal was obviously made pre-war for things like that do not happen today and can result in jail time for not paying taxes! Emily refused to convert to the new southern ways and pay her taxes just