Of Emily Grierson In William Faulkner's 'A Rose For Emily'
The desperation of Emily Grierson
In “A Rose for Emily,” William Faulkner tells the story of Miss Emily, an aristocratic woman that is greatly respected by people of the town in Jefferson, Yoknapatawpha County, Mississippi. People look at her as “a tradition, a duty,” and a “monument.” The story starts off sorrowfully at Emily's funeral, but ends up terrifyingly when people discover her unspeakable secret. She poisons Homer Barron. She even keeps his rotting corpse on her bed and sleeps next to it for years. Even though Miss Emily's oddities gives the story an ominous feel, I believe that Emily Grierson is just an old and lonely lady who could never escape her own isolated world. Emily was born in a very well-respected family. Her …show more content…
At the beginning of the story, Faulkner describes Emily as a traditional person because she spends most of her lifetime painting. Another proof to prove that Emily is traditional is when she refuses to get free postal service and attach a mailbox with the metal numbers as the whole town do. Comparing to all people of the town, Emily is different. Everything about Emily is extremely deserted, even her house. The house gives a clear explanation of how old-fashion Miss Emily is. Her house used to be one of the most extravagant in the Jefferson because it was well-cared, but it soon became “an eyesore” to the town. It starts fading and losing its look as time passing by. The house is not well-furnished anymore and becomes so stinky. There is no one takes care of it. Even Miss Emily locks herself in the “squarish frame house that had once been white, decorated with cupolas and spires and scrolled balconies in the heavily lightsome style of the seventies” all the time. The house somehow expresses the mysterious feel of its owner. She does not have any interaction with people in the town. By emphasizing everything, Faulkner was able to build up an “impervious, tranquil, [and] perverse” (Falkner 4) Emily who is both mentally and physically
In “A Rose for Emily,” William Faulkner tells the story of Miss Emily, an aristocratic woman that is greatly respected by people of the town in Jefferson, Yoknapatawpha County, Mississippi. People look at her as “a tradition, a duty,” and a “monument.” The story starts off sorrowfully at Emily's funeral, but ends up terrifyingly when people discover her unspeakable secret. She poisons Homer Barron. She even keeps his rotting corpse on her bed and sleeps next to it for years. Even though Miss Emily's oddities gives the story an ominous feel, I believe that Emily Grierson is just an old and lonely lady who could never escape her own isolated world. Emily was born in a very well-respected family. Her …show more content…
At the beginning of the story, Faulkner describes Emily as a traditional person because she spends most of her lifetime painting. Another proof to prove that Emily is traditional is when she refuses to get free postal service and attach a mailbox with the metal numbers as the whole town do. Comparing to all people of the town, Emily is different. Everything about Emily is extremely deserted, even her house. The house gives a clear explanation of how old-fashion Miss Emily is. Her house used to be one of the most extravagant in the Jefferson because it was well-cared, but it soon became “an eyesore” to the town. It starts fading and losing its look as time passing by. The house is not well-furnished anymore and becomes so stinky. There is no one takes care of it. Even Miss Emily locks herself in the “squarish frame house that had once been white, decorated with cupolas and spires and scrolled balconies in the heavily lightsome style of the seventies” all the time. The house somehow expresses the mysterious feel of its owner. She does not have any interaction with people in the town. By emphasizing everything, Faulkner was able to build up an “impervious, tranquil, [and] perverse” (Falkner 4) Emily who is both mentally and physically