english
Emily Grierson as Jefferson’s Fallen Monument
In “A Rose For Emily,” William Faulkner portrays Emily as a prestigious young woman of the old south, that later became an obligation. Emily Grierson, the last living member of the oldest and most prestigious family of Jefferson, is fondly remembered by the town citizens for her past lifestyles that she represented. Women of the old south and of a “good family” were often put on pedestals of virtue and respectability, given special treatments as ladies: “When the next generation, with its more modern ideas, became mayors and aldermen, this arrangement created some little dissatisfaction” (Faulkner 91). Much respect, which Emily demands, is freely rewarded by the Jefferson townspeople. However, when Emily refuses to abide by the rules of the town, she falls below the town’s expectations of a person of her status, and tension is created among the townspeople. Therefore, in William Faulkner’s “A Rose For Emily,” Emily Grierson becomes a fallen monument for the people of Jefferson.
Another time that Emily falls below the Jeffersonians’ expectations occurs when she refuses to pay her overdue property taxes. After her father’s death, Colonel Mayor Sartoris told Emily that she would be exempt from paying any taxes in that town, and even after the new generation came in it stayed that way. The new mayor tried to get her to pay her taxes, but after some time he gave up. A group of aldermen also visit to confront the issue, and she quickly dismisses them by saying, “I have no taxes in Jefferson. Tobe!’ The Negro appeared, ‘Show these gentlemen out” (Faulkner 92)
Emily being of age thirty and not having married gave another reason for the townspeople to look down upon her. Emily likely thought of herself as still being on a pedestal, or, even if she did not, the influence of a clearly dominating father thinking no man was good enough for her or for the Grierson family, kept her firmly fixed on the pedestal in her own mind
In “A Rose For Emily,” William Faulkner portrays Emily as a prestigious young woman of the old south, that later became an obligation. Emily Grierson, the last living member of the oldest and most prestigious family of Jefferson, is fondly remembered by the town citizens for her past lifestyles that she represented. Women of the old south and of a “good family” were often put on pedestals of virtue and respectability, given special treatments as ladies: “When the next generation, with its more modern ideas, became mayors and aldermen, this arrangement created some little dissatisfaction” (Faulkner 91). Much respect, which Emily demands, is freely rewarded by the Jefferson townspeople. However, when Emily refuses to abide by the rules of the town, she falls below the town’s expectations of a person of her status, and tension is created among the townspeople. Therefore, in William Faulkner’s “A Rose For Emily,” Emily Grierson becomes a fallen monument for the people of Jefferson.
Another time that Emily falls below the Jeffersonians’ expectations occurs when she refuses to pay her overdue property taxes. After her father’s death, Colonel Mayor Sartoris told Emily that she would be exempt from paying any taxes in that town, and even after the new generation came in it stayed that way. The new mayor tried to get her to pay her taxes, but after some time he gave up. A group of aldermen also visit to confront the issue, and she quickly dismisses them by saying, “I have no taxes in Jefferson. Tobe!’ The Negro appeared, ‘Show these gentlemen out” (Faulkner 92)
Emily being of age thirty and not having married gave another reason for the townspeople to look down upon her. Emily likely thought of herself as still being on a pedestal, or, even if she did not, the influence of a clearly dominating father thinking no man was good enough for her or for the Grierson family, kept her firmly fixed on the pedestal in her own mind