Emily Grierson Character Analysis Essay

Her name was Emily Grierson. A woman who's life has been the talk of the town, ever since her father died. Written by William Faulkner, he brings this character alive using many details and descriptions of her and her environment. He describes her in ways that give us insight into her personality. She is a small, fat, woman who's frame was small. "Her eyes, lost in the fatty ridges of her face, looked like two small pieces of coal pressed into a lump of dough…" (Faulkner pg. 81) This depiction implies that Emily has a stare and eyes that are very unnerving. In one instance he writes her as having short hair making her look like a girl and a resemblance to angels in church windows. This was after her father died and shows an almost kind of shift in her personality, almost blissful. "…cold, haughty black eyes…as you imagine a lighthouse-keeper's face ought to look." (Faulkner pg. 84) A lighthouse-keeper is probably awake
In the first page he describes her house. He starts talking of when the house was new and how fancy and nice it was. Like Emily when she was young. But encroaching cotton gins and garages have caused the property to lose its charm. Emily's father has encroached on her own freedom and will, causing her to lose her charm. Then, "…Miss Emily's house was left, lifting its stubborn and coquettish decay above the cotton wagons and gasoline pumps…" (Faulkner pg. 80) This quote paints a very dark and dirty picture and seems to symbolize Emily's own stubbornness and emotional decay. Emily never left the house and was only seen in the windows. One can tell that her father was a big part to her life by the way Faulkner describes the parlor of her house. He says, "…before the fireplace stood a crayon portrait of Miss Emily's father." In a room the fireplace is usually the main part, like a centerpiece. Now the portrait is given as much attention as the