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A Rose For Emily - 2
A Rose For Emily - 2
Plot Analysis
"For Rats"
Even though this story seems
all jumbled up chronologically,
the climax comes roughly in
the middle of the story,
lending the story a smooth,
symmetrical feel.
According to Faulkner, Homer
probably was a bit of a rat, one which
noble Miss Emily would have felt
perfectly in the right to exterminate.
Yet, she also wanted to hold tight to
the dream that she might have a
normal life, with love and a family.
When she sees that everybody – the
townspeople, the minister, her cousins, and
even Homer himself – is bent on messing up
her plans, she has an extreme reaction. That's
why, for us, the climax is encapsulated in the
image of the skull and crossbones on the
arsenic package and the warning, "For rats."
Suspense
Deadly Gossip
As with the climax, Faulkner follows a
traditional plot structure, at least in terms of
the story of Emily and Homer. Emily buys the
arsenic, and at that moment the information
is beamed into the brains of the townspeople.
This is one of the nastiest sections.
The town is in suspense over
whether they are married,
soon will be, or never will be.
Their reactions range from
murderous, to pitying, to
downright interference.
We also learn that Homer Barron was last
seen entering the residence of Miss Emily
Grierson on the night in question. So, we
can be in suspense about what happened
to him, though by the time we can
appreciate that this is something to be
suspenseful about, we already know what
happened.
Denouement
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