A Rose For Emily
I can definitely say “A Rose For Emily” is an interesting piece. This story was so simple yet the plot had much more behind it. When I first read this piece, I thought it was about the life of someone who passed away. It seemed like the narrator was listing the important parts of her life then explained it in detail. As I read it, all I can think about is why this is important and what does this have to do with this story. I kept asking myself, “What’s going to happen?” because I was waiting for something good to happen. When I mean good I mean interesting because I was pretty bored. I did have an idea of someone dying in the story but it seemed more about Emily and how she died since the story began that way. It wasn’t until the twisted ending that the story became fascinating, realizing how disturbed I was by such an ending.
I think Emily and the murder Emily committed had to be the most interesting part of the story. I say this because the story line revolved around and Emily and it wasn’t until later that I find out she kills someone that the story really grabbed my attention. I didn’t real think of any situations in my life that related to the story since I’ve never killed a person before. Maybe one way I can relate is how I felt left out of the “in-crowd” in high school the same way society left Emily alone. Sadly, I wanted to feel like I belong, I didn’t want to be alone and left out, in fact no one does. It is different in Emily’s case considering she refused to be a part of society at all but she was alone.
There are many symbols that represent the theme and meaning of the story, in which case the setting was the greatest working factor into conveying the author’s message. I believe Faulkner was trying to say that Southern American traditions should stay considering that he is a Southern native and had to experience the changes the South was going through. It seems to be this way because of Emily. Emily was raised under Southern customs and her strict father. The beginning of the story even told of how she wouldn’t pay taxes and she never did. This is the first sign of how she is accustomed to the way of South and refuses to change. I also believe that because her father was so strict she was very reserved from the rest of the townspeople. I think she didn’t want to associate with society because of her stubbornness in conforming to North. In turn, the townspeople had also left her alone and saw her as an outcast since she didn't pay taxes. It wasn’t until she started dating the Northerner Homer Barron after her father died that the townspeople paid attention to her.
Homer Barron had a major role into the plot of the story. He was from the North and working as construction worker to build sidewalks in their town. The sidewalks are a Northern idea being brought into the South. Homer was dating Emily for a little while until things started to change. Apparently Homer left as if he disappeared. In the end we find that Homer is dead, poisoned by Emily’s doing. It became clear that Emily has an extreme dislike for the North and probably felt the need to murder Barron because he was from the North. The story is North versus the South in this sense. Faulkner wanted to prove it, to prove that the North could never replace the South. Thus, the ending turns out to be creepy. Emily murders the man she dated but keeps his body for the rest of her life, on her bed to sleep next to every night. How much more creepier and disturbing could it get?
One element of the story which really caught my attention is if Emily was actually ill in her mentally. Do you think Emily became insane because of her background (her father’s strictness, southern identity, etc.)? Or do you think that she may perhaps be born with such a mentality? I honestly think Emily is pretty crazy to have committed those things in the first place and trying to make sense of why she did it seems to not make sense at all.
-Christine Molina
I think you make a good point, Emily is crazy obviously crazy other wise we would all have dead bodies in our houses. I think that Emily struggled with things in her life. There isn't mention of Emily's mother. Where is she, what happened to her. The only other family that she has have distanced themselves from the situation.Not only because of a feud but I'm sure because the sense something isn't right about her and her father.i think that Emily's reason for being ill is because she isn't socialized. When her father dies which is the only person she has ever really had contact with she decides not to call authorities in until they insist upon it. Emily doesn't know how to be alone but she also doesn't know how to socialize. It's been proven that for normal development all humans no matter what age need interaction with other humans.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your point on how the story seemed basic until the twist at the end. The fact that this story ended so crazy made me read it again knowing what i know and every little detail was more intense the second time around. I like your comparison of the townsfolk gossip to the "in-crowd" in high schools. Most teens start smoking weed, drinking, partying, having sex etc. just to fit in this crowd. Emily not caring about that shows how if you disagree with the group you are more of an interesting topic then if you do mix with the group
ReplyDeleteI don't think Emily was born mentally ill or anything like that. I do think that she had a strange family dynamic and grew up surrounded by negativity. Being so sheltered and codependent for her whole life did not set her up to be very socially accepted. Also, I think she was very lonely and spent too much of her life in solitude, and I'm sure she was aware that she was being gossiped about. Maybe all those emotional factors drove her crazy.
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ReplyDeleteI don't think Ms. Emily was born that way. I think after her father's death her whole mindset changed, because she was traumatized by it. She was very much in denial. So I think when she met Homer there could've been a big possibility that he didn't want to date her anymore, and she took that as him leaving her alone like her father did. So she made sure that no one will ever leave her again so by her killing him in her mind he will always be with her forever.
ReplyDeleteWell, I do believe that some people are born with pieces missing, let's say "a screw loose", but not Emily. I think you're right that Emily is an embodiment of the South and it's traditions but I think that Faulkner is basically saying to the North that they're are driving the South crazy with their policies and more central-government ideals.
ReplyDeleteGreat job picking this one apart, Christina.