What is symbolism? According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary symbolism: is the use of symbols to express or represent ideas or qualities in literature, art. What is the writer or artistes trying to intemperate in their work? William Faulkner and Edgar Allan Poe were literary geniuses in their use of dark and subdued writing styles, but in my opinion no one takes the time to look in depth into the real meanings of there works . This paper will elaborate on the use of symbolism in “A Rose for Emily” by William Faulkner and The Tell-Tale Heart by Edgar Allan Poe. In the story “A Rose for Emily” the elderly Emily Grierson is the subject of mystery throughout her town. She is described as a reclusive individual only having the company of her faithful butler for company. The House she lived in is depicted as a “big, squash, frame house that had once been white and decorated with cupolas and spires”( Kirszner, Mandell 220). The house symbolize the once elegance and grandeur of Miss Emily appearance that has now morphed into a “bloated body” with a “pallid hue” that resembles the big, squarish frame of her one time grand home (Klippel 175). In my opinion Faulkner's message was to show that despite the brilliance of Miss Emily's status and countenances her beauty eventually faded in the annual of time. The title of the story inflects and undertone of mystery to the story. Why would Falkner choose the word “Rose” in his title. “The “Rose” is interpreted as secrecy: the confidential relationship between the author and his character”(Melczarek 240). On a personal anecdote I see the rose as fading beauty. A rose is seen for its deep crimson petals which symbolizes the splendour and vitality of Miss Emily's youth; however, as rose pet... ... middle of paper ... ... Klippel, Heike. "House, Wife, Woman, And Time." Kronoscope 7.2 (2007): 137-168. Academic Search Complete. Web. 22 Nov. 2013. Melczarek, Nick. "Narrative Motivation In Faulkner's A ROSE FOR EMILY." Explicator 67.4 (2009): 237-243. Literary Reference Center. Web. 22 Nov. 2013. Wing-chi Ki, Magdalen. "Ego-Evil And "The Tell-Tale Heart.." Renascence 61.1 (2008): 25-38. Literary Reference Center. Web. 24 Nov. 2013. Pitcher, Edward W. "The Physiognomical Meaning Of Poe's "The Tell-Tale Heart." Studies In Short Fiction 16.3 (1979): 231. Academic Search Complete. Web. 24 Nov. 2013. Kirszner, Laurie G. and Stephen R. Mandell "A Rose for Emily" Compact Literature by William Falkner 8th ed. Boston:Wadsworth, 2013. 220-26 Kirszner, Laurie G. and Stephan R. Mandell. "The Tell-Tale Heart". Compact Literature by Edgar Allan Poe 8th ed. Boston: Wadsworth, 2013. 619-22
Some readers might find the title of Faulkner’s story, “A Rose for Emily,” ironic. As a Symbol, the rose usually signifies romantic love. Assuming that Faulkner is well aware of a rose’s symbolic meanings, why does he wish to name his story about a doomed and perverse love affair? Faulkner causes the reader to believe this is a classic love story. Faulkner then overturns the reader’s expectations by offering an unconventional heroine. Generally love stories involve a young woman, pure and beautiful, worthy of receiving love. In this story, however, the heroine is old and decrepit. Emily is introduced first at her funeral where everyone from the town has come to pay respects. Emily then is described as “a tradition, a duty, and a care; a sort of hereditary obligation upon the town”. (Faulkner 681) This meaning that the townspeople viewed her as more of a monument to the town that has been there for as long as they can remember and won’t be moved. Emily throughout the whole story is criticized for the way that she thinks she is more important than everyone else, but it takes a society to judge a person at the top in order for there to be any social ladder. When Emily meets Homer she again is criticized for being seen with someone who comes from a lower part of society, but she is also being criticized for thinking she is better than everyone else. The townspeople make her feel like an outcast, and that is why she isolates herself from the rest of society. Society criticizes her for what she does, but it is the society that makes her do it. When Emily buys the rat poi...
Faulkner, William. "A Rose for Emily". An Introduction to Literature, 11th ed. Ed. Barnet, Sylvan, et al. 287-294.
In "The Tell-Tale Heart," by Edgar Allen Poe, the setting, the plot, the characters and even the point of view are great contributing factors to the overall reaction of the readers of the narrative.
Poe’s “The Tell-Tale Heart” depicts the human mind through the struggle of distinguishing reality and imaginary. Poe utilizes the narrator/agonist to demonstrate how the suffering of one’s perceived acuteness of senses, in relation to anxiety, leads to an unwanted culmination. The narrator labels his own nervous behavior as “disease” that has “sharpened [his] senses” (691). Poe’s use of “disease,” indicates disorder and destruction, and also foreshadows the spread and consumption of the narrator’s fear. The confidence that results from the narrator’s justified senses proves to draw him further from his own morality. By example, he states, Moreover, his senses stem from his overarching obsession and hatred for the old man’s eye. This is demonstrated by his continued distinct characteristics he places on the eye—“eye of a vulture,” “pale blue eye,” “Evil Eye,” and “damned spot” (691-693). The collection of descriptions throughout his efforts to kill the old man shows the torment he suffers from his psychosis. The narrator’s statement, “it haunted me day and night,” displays his motivation for killing the old man. However, the significance of the narrator actually committing the murderous act demonstrates the definitive loss of his rationality and morality. Poe displays, that the dark side of the mind is a result of this los...
“A Rose for Emily” by William Faulkner sounds like an inspiring story or a story in which Emily was the kind of person that one would describe a rose as. When we think of a rose most people feel that a rose symbolizes love or an intimate symbol. “Using the decay and corruption of the South after the American Civil War as a background, William Faulkner produced his famous short story A Rose for Emily, which recounts the story of an eccentric southern spinster, Emily Grierson. Emily was born in an old southern aristocratic family, whose life was strictly controlled by her father.” (Qun, 2007). This story is far different than what I interrupted from the first time I read the title of it. The story itself has a very interesting plot due to the story first starting off at Emily Grierson’s funeral. As the story goes along we learn more about the life of Emily Grierson and what has led up to the point of her death. The way A Rose for Emily is being told it’s hard to tell or understand who exactly the narrator of the story is. The plotting of the story does create a lot of interest and suspense. Starting the plot off with the death of the main character leads the audience to
Kurtz, Elizabeth Carney. "Faulkner's 'A Rose for Emily'". Explicator. Heldref Publications. 44.2 (1986): 40. Academic Search Complete. Blinn College, Bryan, Lib. 18 Oct. 2007
"The Tell-Tale Heart by Edgar Allan Poe." The Tell-Tale Heart by Edgar Allan Poe. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Feb. 2014.
...ulkner¡¦s short story ¡§A Rose for Emily¡¨ uses many literary devices such as plot to emphasize the theme of mixed memory. While most stores are written in chronological order, this story is broken up into characters to build up Miss Emily¡¦s personality both externally and internally. While Faulkner uses Miss Emily¡¦s father and homer Barron to affect miss Emily in her environment, Faulkner also old lady Wyatt to suggest the possible inheritance of this unexplainable behavior from her family. Descriptive words are another big part of the story since Faulkner uses them to describe the themes of old age and isolation. While ¡§coquettish decay¡¨ and ¡§tarnished gold head¡¨ is used to compare old to new, ¡§noblesse oblique¡¨ is used to reflect Miss Emily¡¦s past. Not only does Faulkner use descriptive words to describe Miss Emily, but he also uses symbolism. Throughout the story, Faulkner uses the description of Miss Emily¡¦s house to refer to Miss Emily herself. Miss Emily¡¦s once normal behavior and deterioration is captured in the house¡¦s old-fashioned look and the decayed look. Faulkner uses all these literary devices to present the themes of mixed memory, old age and isolation.
Robinson, E. Arthur. “Poe’s ‘The Tell-Tale Heart.’” Critics on Poe. Ed. David B. Kesterson. Coral Gables, FL: University of Miami Press, 1973. 107-115. Print.
Faulkner, William. "A Rose for Emily." A Critical Introduction to Short Fiction. Eds. JoAnn Buck et al. Southlake: Fountainhead Press. 96-103. Print.
More often than not Poe loves to delve deep into human terror and draw the line between what is real and what is not while also exploring the extremes of two opposite emotions between love and hate. In “The Tell-Tale Heart”, Poe explores the human complexity of one who experiencing these emotions and fusing them together
In “A Rose For Emily”, by William Faulkner, plot plays an important role in how
"It is impossible to say how the idea first entered my brain; but once conceived, it haunted me day and night." "The Tell Tale Heart,” by Edgar Allan Poe is a story based on horror and mystery. It tells about a man who was insane, he believed that an old man was to be evil because he had a different eye then the rest. That bothered him so much that he decided to kill this old man so he wouldn't have to look, see, or hear about the evil eye that bothered him so much. In Poe's short story the narrator sees himself as a fair-minded person. However, the unbiased reader, understands that he is mad. Poe weaves a horrific tale that creates an anxious mood for the reader.
“A Rose for Emily” is an essay written by William Faulkner in 1931. The story takes place around the late 19th and early 20th century; therefore, during this period in history, there were certain social customs that women had to follow, such as marriage. Women had to obey the laws and rules created by men. Similarity, this story reflects the relationships among the main character, Emily Grierson, a lady from a wealthy, well-respected and proud family, with her father and with the society in her community. Emily’s controlling father, the town people’s gossips, and Homer - her suitor’s rejection drive her insane.
All in all, the story of “A Rose for Emily” by William Faulkner represents a chilling and twisted story of a woman who used every option, even murder, to keep her state of happiness. Faulkner cleverly uses symbols, characters, and theme to fully illustrate the twisted mind of Emily Grierson and the communities never ending struggle between incorporating modern rules and keeping traditional values.