Authors traditionally use symbolism as a way to represent the sometimes-intangible qualities of the characters, places and events in their work. In the short story, A Rose for Emily, William Faulkner uses symbolic elements to define and characterize Miss Emily Grierson. William Faulkners peculiar story, A Rose for Emily, portrays an insane young woman, Emily Grierson, who is isolated and displaced from society because of her father’s attitude and restriction as she was growing up. Society regards her as a monument and the focal point of town interest because her family had a renowned southern reputation in town during the post civil war. Faulkner uses symbolism through Miss Emily, her house, and Homer to show the contrast between past and present. Faulkner uses symbolism to compare the Grierson house with Emilys life. This is emphasized throughout by the symbolism of the decaying house, which parallels Miss Emilys physical deterioration and demonstrates her mental disintegration.
Emilys life, like the house, which decays around her, suffers from lack of genuine love and care. The eternal characteristics of Miss Emilys house parallel her physical appearance to show the changes brought about by years of neglect. For example, the house is located in what was once a prominent neighborhood that has deteriorated. Originally white and decorated in the heavenly lightsome style of an earlier time, the house has become an eyesore among eyesores (Faulkner 204).
Through lack of attention, the house has advanced from a beautiful representative of quality to an ugly holdover from another era. Similarly, Miss Emily has become an eyesore for instance; she is described as a fallen monument (Faulkner 204) symbolizing her former beauty and later ugliness. Like the house, she has fallen from grace. Once she had been a slender figure in white (Faulkner 207) later she is obese and bloated, like a body long submerged in motionless water with eyes lost in the fatty ridges of her face (Faulkner 205).
The Essay on Analyzing The Bustle In A House By Emily Dickenson
The Bustle in a House By Emily Dickenson The Bustle in a House The Morning after Death Is solemnest of industries Enacted upon Earth - The Sweeping up the Heart And putting Love away We shall not want to use again Until Eternity. "The Bustle in a House", is focusing on the death leading to insight found in Emily Dickinson's poem. In another word the poem is about death of someone close and dear. ...
Both the house and Miss Emily have suffered the ravages of time and neglect. Just as the house is described as smelled of dust and disuse and the leather cracked (Faulkner 205) this could also describe Miss Emily, a small, fat woman in black with a voice that is dry and cold(Faulkner 205) as if is she is rusty from disuse.
Both the house and Miss Emily reveal a common stubborn arrogance. Even being left alone, and a pauper, and humanized (Faulkner 207) Miss Emily held herself a little too high for what she was. Likewise, just as Emily held herself a little high the house is presented as lifting its stubborn and coquettish decay above the cotton wagons and the gasoline pumps (Faulkner 204).
Emily does it in the same way, as the house seems to reject progress and updating. Another characteristic using symbolism in the story is the Rose. Although the rose only directly appears in the title, the rose surfaces throughout the story as a symbol. The rose symbolizes dreams of romance and lovers.
These dreams belong to women, who like Emily, but have to experience true love for them. One symbol is Emily who represents a piece of history and tradition in the town of Jefferson. Faulkner connects Emily and her house in symbolizing the last remaining remnant of the old southern gentry in their society. For example, Emily refused to pay taxes based on an agreement made with Colonel Sartoris, who had been dead for ten years. She then refused to acknowledge the death of Colonel Sartoris, demonstrating her disturbing denial to leave the past. Faulkner’s portrayal of the house demonstrates deterioration of Emily along with her lifestyle, as both Emily and her house have become eyesores among eyesores. Her house represents neglect because of Emilys obsession with the past and even smelled of dust and disusea close, dank smell. Emily uses her house as a retreat to the past away from the demands of the society. The past is also exemplified through Emilys servant, and the older members of society including Judge Stevens and the old Board of Alderman.
The Term Paper on Emily Grierson Faulkner Homer Love
Kemdra Lin Daniel Elizondo Critical essay May 26, 2003 Emily Grierson Faulkner! s "A Rose for Emily" is told from the viewpoint of a resident of Jefferson. The story portraits Emily, the daughter of a south Grierson family as a cruel, and revengeful lady. Emily is a character living in the transitional period of the south. lb " Daniellb (c) On the one hand; she refuses to acknowledge her loved ...
The older members of society convinced the town to excuse Miss Emily from her noncompliance with taxes, and her horrid smelling, dilapidated residence. They saw her as a “fallen monument” of southern aristocracy..
