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Expression of Themes in “A Rose for Emily”

Introduction

The story, A Rose for Emily, is a classical story representing the exciting and critical issues displayed to

be the themes and styles used by William Faulkner. William has been regarded as the greatest of America's

novelist in the early 20th century. His mythical picturing of the South in his fictitious world centred in the

fictional county of Yoknapatawpha combined with a typical narrative approach and his skilful utilization of

literary language all reflect the expression of critical themes addressed in this short story. Some of the themes

that stand out from "A Rose for Emily" are past versus change, community versus isolation and death.

Past versus Change

Through the use of Emily's mysterious character, William expresses the struggle between the traditional

past and radical change of the world. Jefferson is left at the crossroad divided between embracing modernity

and clinging to the past ranging from diminished Grierson home glories to the old cemeteries where soldiers of

the Civil War were buried. Emily also has been portrayed to be traditional, having stayed unchanged over years

of community transformation. She has been described as a mixed blessing with one side representing the past

that people would want to respect and honour and on the other side as a burden drawn from the old world

carrying idiosyncrasy not known to others.

Emily life is the timeless, enclosed vacuum-like ancient world of her imagination. She is completely

opposed to having a modern mail metallic number plates fixed on her house. Emily refuses to face the changing
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world's reality and feels threatened by the changes that rapidly sets in with each passing day. Cotton gins and

garages rapidly replace the huge antebellum homes sheused to know. There is also an attempt to break the

unofficial agreement on taxes between Emily and Sartoris. The modern world generation seems vibrant but

senseless to Emily. They pave the sidewalks by bringing in Homer company. Even though Jefferson upholds

old tradition notions and honour, it is evident from the narrator perspective that he is critical on the older men

gathering for Emily's burial. Just like for Emily, the older men consider the time to be relative. That the past

cannot be entirely overridden but instead it is ever-present with the people. The Emily bridal macabre chamber

is an extraordinary attempt to oppose change and stop time; however, that can only be achieved at the expense

of life.

Death

The narrator begins her story by stating that death is overshadowing by describing Emily’s life as death-

haunted to the erosion of tradition caused by modernity. In each instance, death proves to be more potent in

every effort to control it. Emily, an example in the community, gradually succumbs to death. The narrator

collates Emily to a bloated, pale drowned figure left long in the water. She further describes her as spare-

skeleton, small and practically dead. Compared to an emblem in the South, Emily is a magnificent woman who

lost charm and respect over the years, just like the old and outdated sensibilities represented by the Griersons.

The ancient tradition will continue to diminish despite numerous attempts by urban people to uphold the old

ways.

Emily attempts to prevent her death by denouncing it. Her mystical connection to men who died a long

time ago. This is brought to light when she loses her father. Unable to accept her father's death, Emily clings on

to the overseeing patrilineal figure whose control and denial are the only kinds of love known to her. She

unwillingly gives up her fathers body. When Homer dies, once again, Emily denies to accept it. However, this

time Emily is responsible for causing death. The death of Homer makes Emily to even be nearer to her. The
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lifelessness of Homer’s, however, makes him perpetually distant. Homer and Emily’s deformed marriage shows

Emily’s disturbing efforts to combine death and life. Death, however, finally wins.

Community versus Isolation

The unusual correlation between Jefferson town and Emily is a repetitive subject in the novel “a Rose

for Emily”. At Emily’s funeral, the reporter identifies Emily as a tradition, care and duty; and genetic

responsibility in the town. On the contrary, Emily is not much connected to townspeople in her life. Emily’s

father does not allow her to date any man because he does not trust men in Jefferson to be perfect for her. After

Emily’s father dies, Emily continues to stay away from society for most of her life. The few remarkable

deviations to her separation are the Sunday trips with her husband Homer Barron, her shopping rides for men

and arsonic clothing, and the Chinese painting classes she offers for a few years now to Jefferson's young

women. These few exceptions only show how isolated Emily is from Jefferson.

Even though Emily is ordinary to Jefferson town, the town appears to be preoccupied with her. The

relationship between the people of Jefferson and Homer Barron symbolizes this obsession. Women of Jefferson

town are humiliated at the thought being in a relationship. They think that it is a shame to Jefferson's people and

a terrible example for young people. Elderly individuals hate relationships because they believe it is immoral

for any southern woman to be in love. The storyteller sympathizes with Emily and hopes that she will outwit her

cousins and get married to Homer. These different perspectives show a conflict. Despite that Emily sees herself

as not a member of the society, the society accepts her.

Conclusion

William used distinctive themes in Rose for Emily. Throughout this short story, themes are well

displayed by a diction that Faulkner chooses to use. He artistically crafts the use literary skills to demonstrate

different themes such as death, change and isolation. He paints a picture of the characters and expresses their

personality. The use of diction also reveals prying traits of some characters. It can be observed that Miss Emily
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constantly harbours assumptions concerning her living conditions. The observers in the story have father been

used to make themes come out clear to represent the story within which they are depicted.
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Reference

Faulkner, William, John Carradine, and Anjelica Huston. A rose for Emily. Paderborn, De: Verlag F.

Schöningh, 1958.