Examples Of Abandonment In William Faulkner's A Rose For Emily

Abandonment in “A Rose for Emily”
Emily faces a devastating fear of abandonment in “A Rose for Emily,” by William Faulkner. This is exemplified throughout the work using many details and examples. Emily Grierson never accepts the abandonment that she is facing and creates mental incapabilities as a result.
Emily Grierson was not alone after her death, ironically, as all the town came to her funeral even though they never came to see her before. She was laid in the ground more near people than she had ever been in her life. William Faulkner refers to Emily as a “fallen monument” of the town that would also signify abandonment. The house that Emily lived in was on a street that was deserted, and she was the only inhabitant. The house she lived

in was filled with dust and mold, another sign of abandonment that released a foul smell. The blinds remained closed as if to exclude the outside world. Miss Emily Grierson kept a crayon drawing of her father above the mantle as if to always say someone was there with her.

Emily had a servant so that she did not have to leave the house, where she could remain in solitary. The front door was never opened to the house, and the servant came in through the side door. Even her servant would not talk to anyone or share information about Miss Emily. When visitors did come to Emily’s door, she became frantic and nervous as if she did not know what business was. The death of Emily’s father brought about no signs of grief, and she told the community that he was not dead. She would not accept the fact that she had been abandoned because of her overwhelming fear. Emily’s future husband deserted her shortly after her father’s death. These two tragic events propelled her fear of abandonment forward, as she hired her servant and did not leave the house again shortly after. She also worked from home so that she never had a reason to leave. Emily did not have any family in the area to console in because her father had run them off after a falling out previously. She also cut her hair short to remind her of a time when she was younger and had not been deserted. Even though people did not live for miles of Emily Grierson, citizens began

complaining about the protruding smell. People began to feel sorry for Miss Emily but did not ever stop to visit. Emily Grierson began to talk with Homer Barron the summer after her father’s death and her abandonment. Miss Emily buys arsenic and says it is for rats, but the community believes she will soon kill herself. Homer Barron then deserted the streets shortly after the poison was purchased, but returned days later, and was never seen again. Emily had poisoned Mr. Barron but continued to live with him, so that she would never be abandoned. She dressed him every day and helped him to perform daily activities. Miss Emily slept beside Homer every night so that her fear of desertion would never overcome her for nearly fifty years.
Even though Emily Grierson’s biggest fear was being abandoned, she isolated herself from the world in every attempt she could make. She was able to find her own solution to being abandoned so that she would never have to face that fear again.