In William Faulkner's 1930 short story "A Rose for Emily," the protagonist, Miss Emily Grierson is a desperately lonely woman. Miss Emily finds herself completely isolated from other people her entire life, yet somehow manages to continue on with her head held high. French philosopher and writer Voltaire said "We are rarely proud when we are alone," but Miss Emily's case is quite the opposite. The strength that Miss Emily gains from pride is what helps her through the loneliest of times. Miss Emily doesn't choose to be lonely, as no one ever does, but her path is chosen for her at an early age. Miss Emily's aristocratic father only wants the best for his little girl, and never allows her to have relationships with men. The narrator in the story In one aspect, Miss Emily's father strips her of the important social skills needed to survive by protecting her so intensely, but by placing her on such a high pedestal she gains a sense of pride that no one can take away from her. Because of the way she is raised, Miss Emily sees herself as "high society," and looks down upon those who she thinks of as commoners. This places her under the harsh scrutiny of the townspeople who keep her under a watchful eye. The only others who see Miss Emily as she sees herself are the Mayor Colonel Sartoris, and Judge Stevens. After Miss Emily's father dies, Colonel Sartoris takes it upon himself to help Miss Emily with her finances. In order to appeal to her pride while at the same time providing assistance, he comes up with a story about her father lending the town money and in order to pay it back, remits her taxes. And when the neighbors and Board of Aldermen complain about the smell coming from Miss Emily's house, Judge Stevens refuses to bother her about it. When the youngest alderman suggests that they send word to have her clean her house up, Judge Stevens replies "Dammit, sir, will you accuse a lady to her face of smelling bad?" (6) Besides the judge and the mayor, there are no others that try to help Miss Emily, or even want to see her succeed. As times change and the old aristocratic ways become a thing of the past, the lonely Miss Emily still clings onto her old belief system and her proud, high and mighty demeanor.
A Rose for Emily Life is fickle and most people will be a victim of circumstance and the times. Some people choose not to let circumstance rule them and, as they say, “time waits for no man”. Faulkner’s Emily did not have the individual confidence, or maybe self-esteem and self-worth, to believe that she could stand alone and succeed at life especially in the face of changing times. She had always been ruled by, and depended on, men to protect, defend and act for her. From her Father, through the manservant Tobe, to Homer Barron, all her life was dependent on men.
Faulkner, William. "A Rose for Emily." The Norton Anthology of Short Fiction. Shorter 5th ed. Ed. R.V.Cassill. New York: W.W. Norton & Comp., 1995. 275-83.
Isolation dominated the seventy four-year life of Emily Grierson in 'A Rose for Emily' by William Faulkner. Never in this story did she live in harmony with anyone one short time. Even when she died at age seventy four, people in Jefferson town rushed into her house not because they wanted to say goodbye forever to her, but because they wanted to discover her mystic house. Many people agreed that it was the aristocratic status that made Emily?s life so isolated. And if Emily weren?t born in the aristocratic Grierson, her life couldn?t be alienated far away from the others around her.
One can clearly imagine the timid Emily standing behind her towering father. "Miss Emily a slender figure in white in the background, her father a spraddled silhouette in the foreground, his back to her and clutching a horsewhip." Emily's father not only dominates the portrait but dominates Emily as well. Emily's father controls her every move. She cannot date anyone unless her father approves, yet he never approves of any of the few men that do show interest in her. "None of the young men were quite good enough for Miss Emily and such." Unable to find a good enough suitor, Emily has no choice but to stay and care for her governing father.
William Faulkner’s A Rose for Emily tells a story of a young woman who is violated by her father’s strict mentality. After being the only man in her life Emily’s father dies and she finds it hard to let go. Like her father Emily possesses a stubborn outlook towards life, and she refused to change. While having this attitude about life Emily practically secluded herself from society for the remainder of her life. She was alone for the very first time and her reaction to this situation was solitude.
Notable Norwegian philosopher Lars Fr. H. Svendsen in A Philosophy of Boredom (2005) wrote that, “self-identity is inextricably bound up with the identity of the surroundings” (Svendsen 143). In this way, it can be reasoned that the complex dynamic of interconnected relationships surrounding the individual, in turn develops a perceived notion of ‘character’ that serves to negate true identity rather than reveal it. This concept is one that easily extends to William Faulkner’s short story, “A Rose for Emily” (2004). Within the text, the constructed description of the central protagonist, Miss Emily, as outlined through the narration of the townspeople, is that of “a slender figure in white” positioned in “tableau” (Faulkner 1350). In the same
William Faulkner’s short story “A Rose for Emily” displays themes of alienation and isolation. Emily Grierson’s own father is found to be the root of many of her problems. Faulkner writes Emily’s character as one who is isolated from the people of her town. Her isolation from society and alienation from love is what ultimately drives her to madness.
The domineering attitude of Emily's father keeps her to himself, inside the house, and alone until his death. In his own way, Emily's father shows her how to love. Through a forced obligation to love only him, as he drives off young male callers, he teaches his daughter lessons of love. It is this dysfunctional love that resurfaces later, because it is the only way Emily knows how to love.
In “A Rose for Emily”, by William Faulkner, Emily Geierson is a woman that faces many difficulties throughout her lifetime. Emily Geierson was once a cheerful and bright lady who turned mysterious and dark through a serious of tragic events. The lost of the two men, whom she loved, left Emily devastated and in denial. Faulkner used these difficulties to define Emily’s fascinating character that is revealed throughout the short story. William Faulkner uses characterization in “A Rose for Emily”, to illustrate Miss Emily as a stubborn, overly attached, and introverted woman.
By using strong characterization and dramatic imagery, William Faulkner introduces us to Miss Emily Grierson in “A Rose for Emily”. The product of a well-established, but now fallen family, Emily plays common role found in literature- a societal outcast, who earns her banishment from society through her eclectic behavior and solitary background. Often living in denial and refusing to engage with others, Emily responds to her exile by spending the remainder of her life as a mysterious recluse that the rest of society is more content to ignore rather than break social customs to confront her. Emily’s role as an outcast mirrors a major theme of the story, that denial is a powerful tool in hiding a secret, however, the truth will eventually emerge. The mystery surrounding Emily’s character and the story’s memorable imagery creates a haunting tale that lingers with the reader.
Faulkner, William. "A Rose for Emily." The Norton Anthology of Short Fiction. Shorter 5th ed. Ed. R.V.Cassill. New York: W.W. Norton & Comp., 1995.
William Faulkner, one of the most famed writers of our times, explores in his writing the themes of alienation and isolation. He interweaves these themes with his female characters. In A Rose for Emily, Miss Emily Grierson is a woman who is alienated and lives in isolation from the people in her town. The theme of isolation is the focal point of the story, since it is what drove her to her madness.
In the short story “A Rose for Emily” written by William Faulkner, Emily, the protagonist, is shown as someone who’s life is falling apart and brought down by society. Emily in this story could be described as a victim to society and her father. Emily Grierson’s confinement, loss of her father and Homer, and constant criticism caused her, her insanity.
Miss Emily is the old fashioned person in a town that’s evolving to become more updated. The story states, “It was a big, squarish frame house ..., set on what had once been our most select street. ...only Miss Emily's house was left, lifting its stubborn and coquettish decay above the cotton wagons and the gasoline pumps-an eyesore among eyesores.” (Faulkner). In another part of the story, Miss Emily never paid her taxes and when someone came to her house to discuss the tax problem, she said Colonel Sartoris, the once mayor of the town, didn’t require her to pay her taxes. The problem was he had been dead for 10 years. For Aunt Alexandra, she is obsessed with “old family” and traditional views. Shows this by coming to the Finch house and trying to make Scout more ladylike. With these things in mind, it’s clear that Miss Emily and Aunt Alexandra are both similar, demonstrating the same traits and viewing at the same
In the beginning of the story “a crayon portrait of Miss Emily’s father” is said to be on her fireplace. One could infer that Emily drew it as a child. Although her father is overly protective, especially when it comes to suitors, they have a loving relationship. In her father’s eyes “none of the young men were quite good enough for Miss Emily.” His high standards causes Emily to spend most of her adult life without a significant other.