The Grieving Process In William Faulkner's A Rose For Emily

An important idiosyncrasy of Emily's that will help the reader to understand the bizarre finale of the story, is her apparent inability to cope with the death of someone she cared for. When deputies were sent to recover back taxes from Emily, she directed them to Colonel Sartoris, an ex-mayor that had told her she would never have to pay taxes, and a man that had been dead for ten years. Years before this incident, however, after her father had died, she continued to act has if he had not, and only allowed his body to be removed when threatened with legal action. Considering the fate of her lover's corpse, one suspects she would have kept her father's corpse also, had the town not known of his death.

The medics tried to come to her to help her take the body from the house, but she rejected. The only love she knew was the love of her father so the passing of her father must have had an enormous impact on her. He was the only one in her life that was protective of her. Later, she broke down and let law enforcement come to the house to bury of his body properly. As a whole, Emily’s behavior throughout the whole story shows the audience that she might be mentally ill. After the death of her father, she held on to his body and was in denial that he was dead when the townspeople came to offer their condolences. After losing the most important man in her life, she found another man named Homer Barron. With the belief of them getting married, she proceeded to buy marital things such as a toilet set in silver with his initials engraved on

In William Faulkner's "A Rose for Emily," Emily becomes a minor legend during her lifetime. After her death, when her secret is revealed, hers becomes a story that no one can forget. "A Rose for Emily" is the story of the old maid who fell in love with a northerner, but resisted being jilted once too often. And only after her death, "When the curious towns people were able to enter her house at last, did they discover that she had kept her dead lover in the bed where she had killed him after their last embrace." (Kazin 162) . "In her bedroom, Emily and the dead Homer have remained together as though not even death could separate them."(Kazin 162) . Even though her lover had

“After her father’s death she went out very little, after her sweetheart went away, people hardly saw her at all” (Faulkner 805). Miss Emily was an interesting character that is commonly associated with death and isolation. According to Willow D. Crystal, William Faulkner's "A Rose for Emily" suggests that there is a tension between what is private and what is public. I agree, but I would add that the character of Miss Emily emphasizes the isolation and death themes that Faulkner attempts to achieve.

In “A Rose for Emily”, William Faulkner uses imagery and symbolism to both illustrate and strengthen the most prevalent theme; Emily’s resistance to change. William Faulkner seems to reveal this theme through multiple descriptions of Miss Grierson’s actions, appearance, and her home. Throughout the short story it is obvious that Emily has a hard time letting go of her past, she seems to be holding onto every bit of her past. Readers see this shown in several ways, some more obvious than others.

“Alive, Miss Emily had been a tradition, a duty, and a care; a sort of hereditary obligation upon the town” (Faulkner 1). Emily, a member of the town’s elite class, relied upon her father when growing up and after his death, she refused to pay her taxes, stating that her father contributed much to society. But it was evident that she didn’t pay them because of a lack of maturity - financially and socially. When she was younger she pushes herself onto Homer Barron, a Northerner with no interest in marriage. Throughout the story, Emily is conflicted over societal change, and clings to her privileged manner even after finding herself in poverty. Yet, she becomes involved with a man from a lower social class, and a Northerner as well - hinting that he has different beliefs and values. The townspeople, however, believe the relationship it too modern when there is a possibility they are having physical relations despite not being serious about marriage. The community’s inability to commit to progress, contribute to the confused Emily’s decision. In A Rose for Emily, Faulkner uses the symbolism of Emily’s house and her hair to demonstrate her emotional instability and physical deterioration, illustrating the outcome of his story.

Emily was obsessed with holding on to the past and to avoid change. When her father dies she is really sad. She then meets a man named Homer Barron. She is afraid she will lose him too because he is not the kind of guy to settle down. So if she kills him she could at least still be able to see him after he is dead because she will keep his dead body in her house. By her keeping the body in the house it shows she had a hard time of letting go. Emily kills because of her extreme love.

Initially after the loss of her father Emily Grierson refuses to let go of him and the influence he has over her in “A Rose for Emily”. Emily’s father was a big part of her existence he was the only man in her life. For years he had ran off suitor that had called upon Emily. Once he was gone it is hard for her to adapt to life without him. She refuses to believe that he is dead telling the ladies of the town “that her father was not dead” (101). She had been very close to her father and without him her live would not be the same. She never leaves the house she stays secluded from the town. By remaining alone she will not have to face the fact that any change has taken place.

Faulkner states that Miss Emily would tell the other people that “her father was not dead. She did that for three days, with the ministers calling on her, and the doctors, trying to persuade her to let them dispose of the body. Just as they were about to resort to law and force, she broke down, and they buried her father quickly,'' (Faulkner 804). This part of the story foreshadows another incident where Emily again refuses to let go of the deceased. Instead of Emily not being able to let go of her father, this time she couldn't let go of her close friend, Homer. The hint of Emily not being able to let go of her father in the beginning serves as an indication for the reader that Miss Emily is very isolated and will do anything to prevent that. Emily’s suspicious actions causes the reader to anticipate certain happenings and wonder what will happen next.

Emily is destroyed by her father's over-protectiveness. He prevents her from courting anyone as "none of the young men were quite good enough for Miss Emily and such" (82). When her father dies, Emily refuses to acknowledge his death; "[W]ith nothing left, she . . . [had] to cling to that which had robbed her" (83). When she finally begins a relationship after his death, she unfortunately falls for Homer

Emily did not seem to be in a state of distress. While the neighbors attempted to console Emily after her father’s death, “Miss Emily met them at the door, dressed as usual and with no trace of grief on her face” (Faulkner 54). After this passage the reader can clearly understand that Emily is mentally unstable. While Emily’s hair becomes grey, stress takes over her life. Miss Emily never came out of her once beautiful home; she finally opened her house seven years following her lover’s disappearance to bestow lessons in china-painting.

The story “A Rose for Emily” by William Faulkner illustrates a lonely woman who lives far from reality based on her world of imagination and misery. The author depicts the entire life of the protagonist who rejects society being dependent on her personal imagination which harms her nature. The plot immerses the reader into the primary events including the background of Emily’s life with appropriate consequences which cause her psychological instability. In such a way, the author focuses on the theme of isolation as it negatively affects the emotional and physical state of the protagonist who cannot oppose cruelty and injustice of her destiny. Death becomes an integral part of the protagonist’s life as it chases the woman during many years

When describing the relationship between Emily and her father, he portrays her as “a slender figure in the white background,” inferior to her father who is “a spraddled silhouette in the foreground, [with] his back [always] to her, and clutching a horsewhip” (Faulkner 77). Faulkner’s depiction of Emily’s father proposes the idea that he is a powerful figure who always speaks for Emily, not allowing her to have a say in anything. As a result, the town then thinks that Emily is just like her father, when in reality, she is just a misunderstood individual in the community. Faulkner sees that Emily is not accepted or understood in the town, so he names the story “A Rose for Emily,” as a tribute to her for enduring the harsh gossip of the community for so many years. Through the title, Faulkner provides Emily with a voice that is necessary to show that she should be treated as a lady with dignity and respect, despite everything she has done. He demonstrates his pity for her by portraying Emily as a tragedy, who can not do anything about all the hardships she is faced with. Much unlike the views of the town, Faulkner regards Emily as a lady who is tragic, but nonetheless deserves to be regarded with respect and

In William Faulkner’s short story, A Rose for Emily, the author uses themes of death and loneliness to portray the character, Emily Grierson. The theme of death is used to tell readers how death in Emily’s life became a detrimental issue and how she took it too far to benefit her. The theme of loneliness will show how Emily takes loneliness and how far she is willing to go to in order to not experience it.

Love can distill rage into individuals when it is not mutual. In “A Rose for Emily” by William Faulkner, things begin to go south as Emily Grierson encounters her biggest fear: change. Ms. Emily is viewed as a monument and chore to her community. After her father’s death, her world seems to flow accordingly behind his passing. Meanwhile, her emotional health declines in conjunction with her physical surroundings. Emily Grierson suffers from emotional decay due to isolation by her father, unrequited love, and unrealistic expectations from the townspeople causing her to embrace murder.