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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 is obvious.

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

alienation and loneliness. Highlights of this hesitation and loneliness can be clearly seen in the

story.
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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.
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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 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:
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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

short hair is a clear picture of her victory over gender inequality, gender differences and obvious

traditional gender roles.