How would today’s society treat a situation such as Emily Grierson different from the society during the time period of the story? This a question that some will think about after reading a story such as this as well as how it will affect individuals’ lives. The residents in the strict small town of Jefferson already did not agree on how Emily was living with her lover let alone what she did to him shook them up as well. People today probably would have sympathy for Grierson knowing what she her life was like that lead to this horrific event happen. When a story like this comes about in the public, everyone can think of everything Emily did wrong or how atrocious the crime was but no many will understand why she would do such a thing. She was living in a town with people who took their religion for seriously and lived by it faithfully. Whatever was not done in the religion or around it was wrong and offended them easily. The community she lived in were not welcoming and carrying people that she could socialize with. Grierson did not have any friends throughout her life because of the way she was raised, by an overbearing father that took control of her mind. Some crimes that occur come from those individuals dealing problems in their past or present causing them to do things that will hurt themselves physically, emotionally, and mentally. In this case her controlling father, Mr. Grierson, took that form of being the “man of the household” a little too far. “Emily is such a tragic figure who forever lives under her father’s domination…” (Fang 20). Whatever Mr. Grierson said goes, and Emily had to abide by his authority as long as she lived. There are in fact a lot of parents that can be overbearing and wanting their children to... ... middle of paper ... ...early, the people in the town of Jefferson, Mississippi were probably okay with this tragedy happening since she did not receive much of a punishment for what she did. Whether if something like this happened in the past or present day, Emily Grierson harmed herself mainly. “Poor Emily” was not used because the community felt sorry for her loneliness, they only was judging and doubting her for who she loved. Emily wanted to be accepted and wanted to be loved, but the community she lived in was tough and strict on what they believed was right. If Ms. Emily Grierson was in the present day with and issue such as this one, she would be judged too but there would be people that wanted to help her and see why she felt to do this crime. She would be able to receive the attention that she desperately needed in order to be become better and not die in a miserable state.
Life is sad and tragic; some of which is made for us and some of which we make ourselves. Emily had a hard life. Everything that she loved left her. Her father probably impressed upon her that every man she met was no good for her. The townspeople even state “when her father died, it got about that the house was all that was left to her; and in a way, people were glad…being left alone…She had become humanized” (219). This sounds as if her father’s death was sort of liberation for Emily. In a way it was, she could begin to date and court men of her choice and liking. Her father couldn’t chase them off any more. But then again, did she have the know-how to do this, after all those years of her father’s past actions? It also sounds as if the townspeople thought Emily was above the law because of her high-class stature. Now since the passing of her father she may be like them, a middle class working person. Unfortunately, for Emily she became home bound.
If Emily carried her head a little bit lower and spent time looking at people around her, she could find a reliable listener to help her escape from the isolation. According to people in Jefferson town, the Grierson was really a monument, although this monument was fallen, they considered Emily, the last Grierson, an example to the young people. As a result of that, townspeople, especially some of the ladies, began to say that it was a disgrace to the town and a bad example to the young people.
The end of the American Civil War also signified the end of the Old South's era of greatness. The south is depicted in many stories of Faulkner as a region where "the reality and myth are difficult to separate"(Unger 54). Many southern people refused to accept that their conditions had changed, even though they had bitterly realized that the old days were gone. They kept and cherished the precious memories, and in a fatal and pathetic attempt to maintain the glory of the South people tend to cling to old values, customs, and the faded, but glorified representatives of the past. Miss Emily was one of those selected representatives. The people in the southern small-town, where the story takes place, put her on a throne instead of throwing her in jail where she actually belonged. The folks in town, unconsciously manipulated by their strong nostalgia, became the accomplices of the obscene and insane Miss Emily.
Emily was not what you would call the average murderer. She was strange however, after her own death (which is known to reader in the very first line of the story) the townspeople described her as '…a tradition, a duty, and a care; a sort of hereditary obligation upon the town';(73). When her father died she would not let them take the body for three days, now that's pretty strange. The people in town at the time didn't think she was crazy, they explained her actions like this, 'We remembered all the young men her father had driven away, and we knew that with nothing left, she would have to cling to that which had robbed her, as people will.'; (75) Here is the first indicator that her motives for killing her only love Homer Baron are founded on an emotional type of basis. Her father believed that no one was ever good enough for his daughter, and because she never got close to anyone she didn't know how to let go either, she never experienced that kind of love you get when you meet ...
Their behavior is adaptive to their purpose, but Emily’s behavior is not. The town reputation and community was threatening by Emily’s behavior and this is why they protect her as well as the town. Emily tries to keep her true identity by remaining hidden. It states that in the beginning of the story they see Emily as a “fallen monument”(book pg). Her is valued as a valuable asset to this community and town and that is what they want to keep it that way. The townspeople say “Alive. Miss Emily had been a tradition, a duty, and a care; a sort of hereditary obligation of the town(pg). This quotes are explained by “The complex figure of Emily Grierson casts a long shadow in the town of Jefferson. The members of the community assume a proprietary relationship to her, extolling the image of a grand lady whose family history and reputation warranted great respect. At the same time, the townspeople criticize her unconventional life and relationship with Homer Barron. Emily is an object of fascination. Many people feel compelled to protect her, whereas others feel free to monitor her every move, hovering at the edges of her life. Emily is the last representative of a once great Jefferson family, and the townspeople feel that they have
Through this quote, it is observed that the psychodynamic perspective believes that a lack of controls being in place and weak internal controls can contribute to criminal activity. Emily comes from a wealthy upbringing, but the story describes her father as being a man who would chase away any other men who were interested in Emily. He seemed to be the only man who was allowed in her life. Being that he was the only man in her life, it only makes sense that after his death she would deny that he was dead and hold onto the body; she had no other men to hold onto. In the short story, it mentioned, “we remembered all the young men her father had driven away, and we knew that with nothing left, she would have to cling to that which had robbed her, as people will” (Faulkner, 2). This was the sad truth and everyone in the town knew it too. It can be inferred that she had some aggressive energy towards the townspeople when they wanted to bury the body and that this could be partially blamed on her father’s parenting. Once her father was dead and buried, she became involved with Homer Barron. Due to the way her
Historically, the Grierson name was one of the most respected names in Jefferson. Throughout his lifetime, Mr. Grierson played various roles in the community to further the reputation of his name and to earn his family a great deal of honor. He also, however, had and air of superiority about him. His attitude toward women, as evident in the treatment of his daughter, reflects his old-fashioned ways and his inability, or his lack of desire, to move on into the future. Throughout Miss Emily’s childhood, her father believed that “none of the young men were quite good enough for Miss Emily.” Mr. Grierson did not allow his grown daughter, even at the age of thirty, to
Up until her father's death, some of the townspeople viewed Emily as an, "obligation" rather than a fellow neighbor. Others viewed her as a very powerful woman who lived in a big house and had her father running her life. Emily never had to pay taxes, which made the townspeople see her as an inhumane person. The people of the town felt like they could never truly pity her because it is impossible to show compassion to an artificial individual. With her father dy...
The story is clearly an illustration of the passing of the old to the new, and of the real character of human nature - decadence. The townspeople had an equal share in the crime that Miss Emily committed, and they were instrumental in its cover-up. She is described as "dear, inescapable, impervious, tranquil, and perverse." (85) This description sums up the people's outlook of both her, and themselves in their willingness to embrace her. Even today the fetters of certain types of ignorance and other forms of evil acts are on view anywhere in the country if one looks. A Rose for Emily illustrates it in its purest form in its own time.
Miss Emily was part of the highly revered Grierson family, the aristocrats of the town. They held themselves to a higher standard, and nothing or nobody was ever good enough for them. Faulkner fist gives us the clue of Emily's mental condition when he refers to Emily's great-aunt, Lady Wyatt. Faulkner tells us that Lady Wyatt had "gone completely crazy" (Faulkner 93). Due to the higher standards they had set for themselves, they believed that they were too high for that and then distanced themselv...
This was apparent when she reached the age of thirty and still did not have a proper suitor due to her father dismissing potential mates. After her father’s death, Emily was further isolated because the whole town was happier seeing her fall from grace than comforting her in her time of loss. Emily’s father played a huge role in sheltering her from the world, which in return was a major causality of creating her insanity. It is demonstrated that Emily tries to ignore the town’s judgement as she started seeing Homer by demonstrating an imperious attitude towards the village’s shaming as “she carried her head high enough-even when [she was] we believed that she was fallen” (Faulkner 33). Emily’s isolation from society is similar to the way modern day celebrities are treated because people often forget that they are human too. This lack of compassion towards fellow humans often leads to mental breakdowns, as observed when Emily poisons Homer. If the townsfolk would have treated Emily the same, she might have been able to seek out medical help before she killed her lover. Due to the town’s negligence to reprimand Emily for anything, she was able to get away with numerous crimes, such as murder and tax
Emily Grierson was a woman with a dark past, that kept many secrets. In my perspective, her troubles arise as she was growing up. Living with a father whose temperament was explosive, authoritarian overwhelmed Emily. Her father’s harsh way of thinking, made Emily a vulnerable woman, in which she was easy manipulated and submissive, in my opinion. I just can’t even imagine how terrible was to live and love somebody who possessed those traits. Her mental illness started when her father died. Despite, the fact, of her controlling father she depended on him. Emily, lived in an isolated world, in where her father pretty much dictated everything. Being secured, self- sufficient are characteristics that she was unable to established. Her seclusion of not connecting with reality
Miss Emily is held a high status in society. She was the daughter of a rich man who helped Jefferson in many ways. So many exceptions were made for Miss Emily’s behavior because of her father’s status in the community. Miss Emily did not pay taxes on her house because of her father’s impact on the community. “So when her dad died she was left to herself; and in a way people were glad. At last they could pity Miss Emily” (Faulker 775). She became in denial saying for three days straight that her dad was not dead (Faulker 775). Until she broke down and lets the law burry him quickly. After her father’s death, Miss Emily continued to hold herself high. Even when she was ill she was determined to have the townspeople see her in a high status. The townspeople realized...
"Emily is exempted from the general indictment because she is a real lady-that is, eccentric, slightly crazy, obsolete, a ‘stubborn and coquettish decay,’ absurd but indulged; ‘dear, inescapable, impervious, tranquil, and perverse’; indeed, anything and everything but human" (Fetterley 195). In order to be a woman in the South, one must be of a certain character. Any form of decay cannot tarnish this role or character unless you wish to retreat from the consistent status presented to you. Emily was a true incarnation representing the scale that originates in classism. Her character, however, engulfed the women and led the innocence to death in life itself. This immortal figure was a constant shadow hanging over an area of confusion and tradition. A tradition, which allowed Emily to fall deeper into the abyss of retreat and unconsciousness until reality was seen as a complete dream, filled with foolishness.
Emily was kept confined from all that surrounded her. Her father had given the town folks a large amount of money which caused Emily and her father to feel superior to others. “Grierson’s held themselves a little too high for what they really were” (Faulkner). Emily’s attitude had developed as a stuck-up and stubborn girl and her father was to blame for this attitude. Emily was a normal girl with aspirations of growing up and finding a mate that she could soon marry and start a family, but this was all impossible because of her father. The father believed that, “none of the younger man were quite good enough for Miss Emily,” because of this Miss Emily was alone. Emily was in her father’s shadow for a very long time. She lived her li...