A Rose For Emily Grierson Character Analysis

The Character of Miss Emily and Homer Barron in “A Rose for Emily” In William Faulkner’s, “A Rose for Emily” Mrs. Emily Grierson is the most prominent character, illustrated by the narrator. Strong willed and determined, Emily’s performance has been characterized as strong and peculiar. The narrator touches on the fact that Emily could be intellectually insecure. In this short story Emily seems to be trapped in her ways, never wanting to seek the opportunity to develop her sense of knowledge or progress to alter the way she cooperates with the townspeople. This is demonstrated through countless situations in the story, the most significant being her denial of having to pay taxes, as she simply believes she do not have any. Further occasions
include her refutation of having a mailbox put up, and her denial of facing the veracity of her father’s passing. This illustrates that she has isolated herself from her family, townspeople and life so much so that she failed to apprehend that her most dependable devoted guardian perished nearly a decade ago. It is also illustrated that even though the speakers voice changes throughout the story, Mrs. Emily stayed in unison, stuck in the evident stature of being a Grierson. For instance, when Mrs. Emily orders arsenic from a pharmacy, it is assumed that she wanted to pledge perversity. In this story Emily actions have caused her to refuse burying her father after his passing, but we also ascertain that she intended to eradicate her only possible suitor, Homer Barron. The narrator faults Emily’s mental well- being on her father who in her life has been outstandingly defensive, not giving Mrs. Emily the opportunity to associate with the outsiders. Validation of this idea can be best recognized in the depictions given by the reporter, of when Mrs. Emily stands behind her father holding a weapon with stubbornness. This shows that Emily’s father did not show much regard for her growing up. Emily’s father has been written off as as being firm, which may be the cause of her failure of interacting with her peers. Regardless of her mental incapability, Emily is also viewed as a strong and prevalent character, that the men in her neighborhood wore their confederate uniforms while present at her memorial. The narrator uses the notion of Emily’s “iron gray hair” for being what gave her the stoutness she obtained throughout her life. We are also shown her strength when it is discovered that she managed to kill Homer Barron.