William Faulkner's A Rose For Emily

William Faulkner is well known and said to be one of the great American authors of the twentieth century. He has written many novels and short stories that reflect on his childhood in the south. Although his most of his well-known works take place within a particular setting, the themes he explores are unique. He exhibits bold experimentation with shifts in time and narrative. A Rose for Emily is mysterious short story of affection and death that has many different possible meanings and unanswered questions left to the reader by Faulkner. Emily is one of the strongest, strangest and memorable characters of Faulkner’s short fictions (Kriewald 1) A Rose for Emily would usually fall under the gothic horror category when it comes to determining

He has written many novels and short stories that reflect on his childhood in the south. Although his most of his well-known works take place within a particular setting, the themes he explores are unique. He exhibits bold experimentation with shifts in time and narrative. A Rose for Emily is mysterious short story of affection and death that has many different possible meanings and unanswered questions left to the reader by Faulkner. Emily is one of the strongest, strangest and memorable characters of Faulkner’s short fictions (Kriewald

Critic Laura J. Getty states, “The rose represents secrecy: the confidential relationship between the author and his character, with all of the privileged information withheld.” When European diplomats discussed anything in secrecy they were said to be sub rosa or under the rose. A rose was also carved over the Roman Catholic confessional as a symbol of silence, and sub rosa became well known as a term for "strict confidence," "complete secrecy," or "absolute privacy.” Getty also would argue that the entire story operates sub rosa to conceal that iron-gray hair on her pillow. Throughout the whole story the reader is unaware of Emily’s mental state and any clues that could give it away were avoided. For example, when the minister would not say what he and Miss Emily discussed. Her necrophilia is only known to her and Faulkner, and the only rose that is actually given to her is the one in the title by the