William Faulkner 's A Rose For Emily

Is there any case in which a murderer would be justified in killing? What if the murderer suffered from a severe form of mental illness? In William Faulkner chilling short story called A Rose for Emily, we see a character who murders her lover, but was it her fault? Emily had been mentally unstable for a long time and her family had a long history of suffering from mental illnesses as well, but at the end of the day there is no justification for murder. Some of the most notorious serial killers and murderers have suffered from one form or another of mental illness. People like Ed Gein, John Wayne Gacy, and Jeffrey Dahmer all suffered from some form of mental illness ("Dangerous Minds: Mental Illnesses of Infamous Criminals"). Although there is an understanding on how a person with mental illness is more susceptible to commit violent crimes, it is still wrong. In a study it was found that “no significant difference in the rates of violence among people with mental illness and other people living in the same neighborhood” (Publications). Emily killed Homer due to lack of morality caused by a combination of terrible parenting and a system that put her above the law. The relationship she had with her father was a distinct one, he pushed her into a little bottle and never let her out. She wasn’t allowed to be a person, but instead a trapped soul yearning for attention and love. The town in which she lived, held her on this pedestal that separated her from the rest of the

Faulkner has characterized all the characters in the best possible way. Emily Grierson, Homer Barron, Judge Stevens – the mayor of Jefferson, Mr. Grierson – Emily’s father, Tobe – Emily’s servant, and Colonel Sartoris – a former mayor of Jefferson are the major charters in the story. The narrator describes Emily as a monument, but with a lot of negativity. The story shows us how she was a smart young girl and then how she end up being an overprotective and secretive old woman. She refused to accept the change when her father died and that’s why she kept telling all the people in town that her father is still alive. Homer Barron is much like Emily. Like Emily, Homer is an outsider and becomes the topic of gossip. The narrator describes Homer as a big man with dark complexion with a good sense of humor. Tobe’s character in the story plays an important role. He is a loyal and dutiful servant. He cared for Emily till she died, but he walked out of the back door and never returned after Emily’s death. Mr. Grierson was a well-maintained person. When he was alive, Emily’s house was always beautifully maintained. He earned a lot of respect in the society but when he died the respect towards his family died with him.

In William Faulkner 's short story "A Rose for Emily" the reader is given the account of an old woman who is rejected by society. The reader is acquainted with Miss Emily Grierson by a spectator, somebody who is not Miss Emily, but rather part of the town that rejects her. The storyteller has a somewhat omniscient perspective, knowing more than the normal town 's individual, however not all that matters there is to think about Miss Emily. The storyteller is available for the greater part of the scene, however never assumes a noteworthy part which would have him talk or do anything critical. William Faulkner purposely composes the story in this design to indicate precisely how

While authors like Edgar Allen Poe and Stephen King are known for their creepy writings, William Faulkner has achieved a level of disturbing that is hardly reached in short stories. A Rose for Emily is a story that shows how the insanity of one woman is able to shock an entire town, even in death.

In “A Rose for Emily” the character Emily can be a dark person, the author shows us what she did to the man Homer Barron. The author includes the story mysterious and irony, for us to think about what can happen to some people as a result of living alone for a while and loosing someone who they deeply care about. Emily is in a situation that affected not just by herself, but other people too because she keeps her feelings and thoughts to herself.

William Faulkner’s short story, “A Rose for Emily” begins and ends with death. The death of Miss Emily Grierson, the main character in the short story that takes on the role of a person with an abnormal personality. The narrator tells the tale of Miss Emily’s life following her departure at age seventy four. Although, Miss Emily lived a long life she remained secluded for decades without any human contact. Miss Emily’s mental health is certainly a questionable matter considering the life she leads in this fictional short story. “Human beings have enormous potential to strive toward a higher plane of emotional life” (Brenton 2). With this being said individuals who encounter chronic stress and lack the basic human relationships compromise their mental health. By examining Miss Emily’s mental status, behavior, interactions and personal relationships, it is possible she would have been diagnosed with a form of mental illness according to today’s standards.

“A Rose for Emily” is based off of William Faulkner’s life during the early 1900’s. This story is set post-civil war. During this time there was laws passed against racism but were not followed by most people. The short story is about Miss Emily Grierson’s mysterious life. Throughout this story it presents a personal conflict with her southern identity.

There are many tales about crime and horror, things that have happened in the past. Some stories involve horrible people who are psychotic murders and others may be more simple people who are mentally ill and are in need of some good care. Such is the story of “A Rose for Emily,” by William Faulkner, the main character, Emily, is plagued with mental instability and is sheltered from society; but today such a woman would receive treatment options to help her cope and overcome her apparent attachment disorder.

As any reader can see, " A Rose for Emily" is one of the most authentic short stories by Faulkner. His use of characterization, narration, foreshadowing, and symbolism are four key factors to why Faulkner's work is idealistic to all readers.

She replied with faded ink and thin paper, thus, signifying to us that she no longer goes out. The Board of aldermen got fed up and sent someone to collect. When they arrived at the house “It smelled of dust and disuse a close, dank smell. The Negro led them into the parlor. It was furnished in heavy, leather-covered furniture” (144). Miss Emily stated that she has no taxes in Jefferson to see Colonel Sartoris but Col Sartoris had been dead for ten years. Miss Emily was lost in the past and by the look of it her body indicated “She looked bloated, like a body long submerged in motionless water, and of that pallid hue. Her eyes, lost in the fatty ridges of her face, looked like two small pieces of coal pressed into a lump of dough as they moved from one face to another while the visitors stated their errand” (145).

Readers can often times find that fiction starts prosaically, but ends unpredictably as shown in the short story “A Rose for Emily,” written by William Faulkner. This fictional story is an example of Gothic literature about the Antebellum South. It is narrated by an unreliable male character who represents the townspeople. It might seem like Miss Emily is the protagonist, however, the narrator and the townspeople are really the protagonists who stand for the force of the community. The narrator and the townspeople act on Miss Emily and her desire by denying her desire for love. In the portrayal of the Miss Emily’s role, the reader can see the conflict between her fantasy on love and the town’s fantasy on her. Miss Emily’s pursuit of her dreams, illusion, and community’s dysfunctional values lead to her destruction.

“A Rose for Emily” by William Faulkner was published in 1930. This short story is set in an old southern town. I believe that this and several other combinations of events are what made the main character Miss Emily go insane. Miss Emily was an old school southern woman trapped in a modernizing society. She tried desperately to keep to her old ways, but the changes that happened around her were inevitable. This made me feel like something was going to go wrong very early in the story. It became very apparent to me that Emily did not deal well with change. Throughout the story, I felt sorry for her, because I do not deal well with change either. I find it hard and stressful to deal with. Thus I can see how her changing environment directly impacted Miss Emily’s life. When Emily met the love of her life she slowly became obsessed with him. This was until one day he betrayed her by spreading rumors about her that weren 't true. As the town grew more and more people heard these rumors and began to think less of Miss Emily. This along with her sheltered and isolated childhood could have been what drove Miss Emily to become a murder later on in her life.

A Rose for Emily by William Faulkner is a unique piece of literature. It has a plot which seems somewhat bland, and it is not particularly exciting. However, the ending is quite suprising, and for me it made the story worth reading. I think there are some interesting aspects of this story if you look at it from a feminist point of view. The feminist movement has attempted to elevate the status of the woman to a level equal with men. Feminists have fought for the right of women to be free from the old social restraints which have been in place for so long. A feminist believes a woman should be strong and independent. In some ways the main character, Emily, is this kind of woman, but for the most part she is

Literature comes in a variety of forms that appeal to audiences of all types. Some people enjoy literature in the form of nonfiction novels or articles. Other people may be drawn to fictional pieces of literature such as poems, plays, short stories, or novels. No matter what type of literature an audience may enjoy, the writer will use many methods to capture their attention and express ideas. In the short story, “A Rose for Emily,” William Faulkner uses various strategies to convey themes, ideas, and motifs to the audience.

Miss Emily lived her life almost throughout on display before the town of Jefferson and ultimately this resulted in her lack of socialization and human interaction. The fault in this matter lies with her father, the respected mayor of Jefferson, who protected her and kept her under thumb, driving away every suitor that came to call. People came to picture poor Miss Emily as “a slender figure in white in the background, her father a spraddled silhouette in the foreground, his back to her and clutching a horsewhip, the two of them framed by the back-flung front door” (Faulkner 35). In this visualization, her father clearly stood between her and the real world as a threatening and domineering figure. One might believe that such a prominent figure would interact with the public on a daily basis in a positive manner, but it appears that the Grierson status only encouraged the prying eyes of the townspeople to impede on Miss Emily’s