A Rose for Emily
Jones 1
Kevin Jones
Earhart
English 11
12 September 2014
Insane Emily
In “A Rose for Emily” a character by the name of Emily is presented along with a brief overview of her life as well as the problems she encounters and creates as she ages. Emily is a woman who is set in her ways, has strange beliefs and practices that deem her crazy, and refuses to change no matter what people say and think about her actions. In William Faulkner’s short story “A Rose for Emily”, characterization is used to showcase Emily Grierson, a character who is extremely unstable in her mind.
Emily Grierson has several practices throughout the story that lead the reader to the belief she is mentally unstable. A specific event that allows this conclusion to be drawn is when Emily keeps her father’s body for three days after he has passed away, refusing to listen to the townspeople when they tell her that he is gone for good. “She told them her father was not dead.
She did this for three days, with the ministers calling on her, and the doctors, trying to persuade her to let them dispose of the body” (Faulkner 520). By refusing to believe her father has died;
Emily sways the reader to believe she is mentally unstable. Emily’s actions portray that she is a character that is unable to make beneficial decisions for herself or others. Through the characterization of Emily, the reader is able to gain a better understanding of who Emily is and come to realize she is mentally unstable.
As is seen time and time again throughout the story, Emily’s character reveals who she truly is. Not only does Emily keep dead bodies in her house; she also kills her true love, Homer,
Kevin Jones
Earhart
English 11
12 September 2014
Insane Emily
In “A Rose for Emily” a character by the name of Emily is presented along with a brief overview of her life as well as the problems she encounters and creates as she ages. Emily is a woman who is set in her ways, has strange beliefs and practices that deem her crazy, and refuses to change no matter what people say and think about her actions. In William Faulkner’s short story “A Rose for Emily”, characterization is used to showcase Emily Grierson, a character who is extremely unstable in her mind.
Emily Grierson has several practices throughout the story that lead the reader to the belief she is mentally unstable. A specific event that allows this conclusion to be drawn is when Emily keeps her father’s body for three days after he has passed away, refusing to listen to the townspeople when they tell her that he is gone for good. “She told them her father was not dead.
She did this for three days, with the ministers calling on her, and the doctors, trying to persuade her to let them dispose of the body” (Faulkner 520). By refusing to believe her father has died;
Emily sways the reader to believe she is mentally unstable. Emily’s actions portray that she is a character that is unable to make beneficial decisions for herself or others. Through the characterization of Emily, the reader is able to gain a better understanding of who Emily is and come to realize she is mentally unstable.
As is seen time and time again throughout the story, Emily’s character reveals who she truly is. Not only does Emily keep dead bodies in her house; she also kills her true love, Homer,