True Fate of Homer Barron

I was extremely intrigued about Homers death after reading the story A Rose for Emily. In reading the story the author leads you to believe that Homer died because Emily killed him but also leaves it open for other possibilities. But is it really possible that Homer died for other reasons? Throughout the story it is explained that Emily had a hard time moving forward and letting go of the past and that gives the idea that maybe Homer died and Emily just couldn't let him go like she had trouble letting her father go as well. It also tells of how she bought poison and that people thought she was going to kill herself but later the thought turns to her using it on Homer. There is a lot of talk about her going insane just like her aunt. Unfortunately nobody really knows what happened except maybe her servant Tobe who never spoke to anyone.

Before coming to a conclusion as to what really happened several ideas from the story have to come in to play. When her father died she couldn't accept it and it took several people to convince her that he was dead and to let them bury the body. According to the townspeople he ran off her suitors and robbed her of finding true love and fulfillment. She never seemed able to accept the fact that time was passing and things were changing and maybe this led to her having a fear of being alone. Last but not least she was probably tired of all the town talking about her all the time and may have believed this was her way of solving the talk and being left alone. She did have an image to uphold.

There are several things that point to Emily killing Homer that really can not be ignored. Her going to the store and buying poison but not really giving the pharmacist a reason for needing it so that he writes for rats on the box. Homer entering the house one night after the cousins have left town and never being seen again. Emily tries to get the townspeople to think things are going in the direction they want them to when she goes out and