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Course code: ENG-625

Section: A

Submitted to: Sir Babar Jamil

Submitted by: Fareeha Younas (202110001), Warda Mubeen

(202110011)

PROJECT

LITERARY
THEORY AND
CRITICISM
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Q 1. In what ways might we say that William Faulkner’s “A Rose for Emily”
(1931) plays with traditional gender categories, revealing the biases and
limitations of traditional definitions of gender?

Introduction:

William Faulkner’s most admired short story “A Rose for Emily” paints a clear picture
of gender inequality, patriarchy and religious oppression through Emily Grierson’s immorality
and her interactions with men, even if she is her father, be it a lover or a town man. Furthermore,
the hatred of the people of the city is a clear reflection of the strict belief of traditional gender
characters in southern society.

The people of Southern were very narrow-minded and religious.

They arguing that men were superior to women and that women could not survive individually
without a male partner. Due to the influence of puritan, marriage is necessary for a woman to
survive socially and economically, otherwise alienation in the patriarchal community.

Inequality prevails in all its forms in the form of racism, patriarchy, structural oppression of
gender differences. In a male-dominated society, a woman has always been considered a
‘second’. In the 19th century, women were deprived of material benefits due to lack of property
rights, no right to vote, no choice of marriage or profession. They faced many social and
economic barriers due to their defined gender role. Women have always had to work against
grain to get equal rights for men. For their survival, women have to struggle against the social
barriers that push them towards their traditional gender roles under the pressure of patriarchal
notions of a male-dominated society. It strives for equality, mostly as Emily leads a woman to
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alienation and loneliness. Highlights of this hesitation and loneliness can be clearly seen in the
story.

A Rose for Emily:

William Faulkner’s book, A Rose for Emily, is often a story with elements of feminism.
These elements are reflected in the patriarchal perceptions of the Southern people. Jefferson’s
people strongly believe in women’s oppression and gender differences. Jefferson’s patriarchal
townspeople believe in gender roles that both men and women should be limited to their
traditional roles. Men control power, authority and money while women are limited to
housework, motherhood and child rearing. Southern people are the true interpreters of the Latin

“Woman is nothing but a womb” (Peter Berry).

This injustice has been with Emily Grierson all her life. Miss Emily is a good sprinter in the
strong influence of masculinity. Gender oppression is manifested through the domination of her
father. Her father dominates her in all the decisions of her life. As in the 19th century, women
were not allowed to make decisions about their profession, property and marriage. So Emily’s
father, being a practicing agent at Southern conventions, claimed that

“None of the young people were quite good enough for Miss Emily” (Faulkner).

This excessive protection of the daughter is in fact the subjugation of a woman in the
hands of an authoritative man in the person of the father. Under the guise of responsibility, it is
the Father who enjoys true power. In "A Rose for Emily", Faulkner presents the South as an area
of traditional and traditional attitudes and practices. Southern society emphasizes a woman's
stereotypical interaction with male members of a society. In a male-dominated society, a woman
is completely in the shadow of a man because she is her father or husband, she has no words to
say in any case. That is why; Emily becomes a victim in a male-dominated community.
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After her father’s death, Emily is left alone in a masculine

culture. The house was the only property Mr. Grierson left for his daughter. At this point,
Emily’s transition begins. From a prime and suitable girl, Emily turns to a free and self-
sufficient woman. Regardless of the gender stereotypes of the townspeople, Emily emerges as a
strong woman who makes bold decisions against the principles of society and religion. She falls
in love with Yankee Homer Baron against her status. Emily Homer continues her relationship
with Baron and pays little attention to people’s reactions. Citizenship and inactivity were the
expected characteristics of a woman at the time, while the main character Emily’s behaviour
went against the expectations of the community. She rebels against her traditional gender role,
which is limited to families. Her constant struggle for equality is a clear picture of femininity.

An image of feminism:

Emily’s rejection of masculinity puts her in an endless struggle against patriarchy. His
first rebellion against structural oppression was his refusal to pay taxes. When the board of
elders goes, she behaves like an iron woman instead of singing and declares, “I have no taxes in
Jefferson. Tobe! Show these gentlemen out” (Faulkner). This bold attitude was unusual for a
woman in the South. She stands up for her right to vote and oppression. In patriarchy, women
are considered rude and underdeveloped so that they can participate in social construction. As
Aristotle puts it, “the female is female by virtue of a certain lack of qualities”. But with
masculine qualities, Emily disproves this philosophy. He continues his struggle with the
patriarchal ideology of the society. She wants to free herself from masculine influence to
achieve equal social and legal rights for protection. This is the true spirit of femininity. Emily
plays a number of roles in establishing her identity. She wants to make a name for herself.
“Gender identity is socially constructed and can be challenged and transformed,” states
Virginia Woolf (Peter Berry). Change, identity building, and confrontation with challenges are
the three main elements of femininity that Faulkner has subtly crafted into the main character’s
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personality. She leaves her past inactive and moves on to her new life with the self-acquired
identity. Society forces her to play her traditional role, but she feels pressured to do so. This
protest against social norms turns Emily into a tragic figure. Emily’s situation is described by
Simon de Beauvoir in his most influential work, The Second Sex (1949), “Women have been
defined by men and that if they attempt to break with this, the risk is alienating them.”

A Rose for Emily is a symbolic representation of hatred and

patriarchal beliefs, reflected in the actions of the people of that time. On the contrary, she faces
the harsh language of a male-dominated society and breaks with the old, prejudiced and limited
definition of traditional gender character. She builds her own identity. In short, Faulkner
portrays Emily as a feminist agent.

The first sentence of the play tells the whole story of the patriarchal mentality of the
southern people. Faulkner begins the story with Miss Emily’s funeral. Opening sentence reflects
the hatred of the people of the South. This hatred reflects the community’s attitude towards
Emily. Emily, on the other hand, is a symbol of courage that challenges men’s power, authority
and submission to women. This constant struggle between Emily and the patriarchal mentality
turns her into a tragic figure. Society finds Emily isolated and rehabilitated for violating her
defined traditional gender category.

Conclusion:

In short, it is Emily who wins the war. The last part of the story tells us about Emily’s
victory. When people find Homer’s body in a dusty and gloomy room, they symbolize his
“tomb.” This shows that the long-rooted traditions of the South are aging and will be
demolished. Furthermore, the change in her personality as well as her physical appearance with
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short hair is a clear picture of her victory over gender inequality, gender differences and obvious
traditional gender roles.

THE END!