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What Is The Theme Of Psychologicalism In A Rose For Emily

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The Rose That Never Grew A Rose for Emily is a short story written by William Faulkner in 1930. The story reveals the tragic life of Emily Gerison, who was raised by a controlling father that kept her from society. After her fathers death Emily is left alone in the world along with critical ostracism surrounding her by the towns people. She later develops necrophila, Stockholm syndrome, and acrophobia.Faulkner plays out his story by displaying the theme of isolation, effects of marxism, and the importance the setting plays on a story. Using these elements, Faulkner creates his twisted southern gothic piece. Emily Gerison is women who suffers mentally and deals with many psychological …show more content…

From when she was born Emily’s father kept her from society and put a strong barrier over her life especially when it came to men. He kept her from interacting with others which then led to Emily becoming a social outcast. This is what leads to Emily being psychologically broken. Studies show that human isolation is not only “physically bad for us”(Bond), for “lonely people have higher blood pressure, are more vulnerable to infection, and are also more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease and dementia” (Bond), but it also takes a big tole on humans psychological state. The University of Illinois produced a study which showed how the brain is affected by isolation. Since animals and humans can have the same effects due to social reclusiveness, researchers at the university were able to use mice to prove how the an enzyme called, 5-alpha-reductase type 1, impairs the mice ability to restrict aggression and anxiety. They found that the lonely mice “ 5 alpha-reductase type 1, reduced nearly 50 percent”( University of Illinois) after being a lone for a long period of time. One example of when …show more content…

It takes place in a Mississippi town during the post civil war in the South. The setting plays a big role in the story, for it shows how ones gender and social class affects his or her treatment by society. At this point in time women were still seen as objects and expected to marry and depend on her husband for stability, the town harshly criticized Emily for being single as it says “when she got to be thirty and was still single, we were not pleased” ( Faulkner 2). Also the setting explains why different social classes are treated differently. After losing her father Emily’s financial state began to crumble. After seeing this the town began to isolate and criticize her. The time period helps readers understand the towns actions. For example after her fathers death the town keeps wondering who she will marry and only focus on the men in her life rather than her as a human. Thus showing how women in that time were not expected to make a living but rather stay at home and

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