Symbolism In A Rose For
Emily
Symbolism in “A Rose for Emily” In the short story, “A Rose for Emily” by
William Faulkner, symbolism is used very frequently through out the story.
There are several different symbolic subjects in this story such as the house,
Miss Emily as a “monument,” Homer and the “Yankee” views, and Miss Emily’s old
Negro servant who represents death in the story. In many different ways,
symbolism has a very deep and underlying insight to the story of “A Rose for
Emily”. Miss Emily is compared to her house in many different ways.
Descriptions of the decaying house symbolize Miss Emily’s physical and
emotional decay, and as well as her mental problems. The representation between
herself and her house is shown through constant neglect and unappreciation. In
one point that Faulkner makes, the house is described to be stubborn and
unrelenting, as Miss Emily is also portrayed on many occasions. Examples of her
stubbornness is not letting the “new guard” attach metal numbers above her door
when the town began to receive free mail service, when she refuses to believe
that her father is dead, and refuses to pay her taxes. Just as the house seems
to reject progress and updating, so does Miss Emily, until both of them become
decaying symbols of their dying generation. Miss Emily also represents the “Old
South”. Her southern heritage and points of view are represented through her
actions. Her stubbornness and unrelenting attitude are very strong
characteristics of the Southern heritage. She refused to believe that the times
were changing and refused to change into the new society. The Southern heritage
is also represented through Miss Emily’s strict and repetitive ways. The story
basically addresses the changes in the South after the Civil War. Miss Emily is
considered a “monument” of Southern manners and an ideal of past values. The
Old South generations were deteriorating very rapidly by changing traditions,
and as well as mannerisms. When Miss Emily died, her and her house both become
symbols of their dying generation. Homer Barron is the representative of the
Yankee attitudes toward the Griersons and also toward the entire South. The
South is known for being traditional, and the North is known for being very
adaptable to change. Homer Barron was from the North and also represented “the
next generation with it’s more modern ideas” (Faulkner 315). In some stories,
Negroes sometimes represent death. In the short story, “ A Rose for Emily,” the
color black is symbolic for death, as well as depression and gloom. Death is
very prevalent in this story through the deaths of her father, Homer Barron,
and herself in the end. “A Rose for Emily” contains many examples of strong
symbolism throughout the story. This short story contains a high rate of
symbolism, which is thoroughly distributed and revealed throughout the entire
story. Because Miss Emily refuses to accept the changing times, she symbolizes
a completely different era than in which the town she lived in. Symbolism is
very prominent throughout the story, and plays one of the biggest roles in the
underlying meaning of the entire story.
A Rose For Emily Symbolism
Faulkner uses alot of
symbolism in his short story "A Rose For Emily," to express the
issues in Southern Society and the resolutions of the problems. The character
of Emily is supposed to represent people who didn't accept the new south and
the people who wanted to stick to old southern traditions, like racism and
white royalty. Emily, who lived during the prime years of the old south, tried
to keep the old south traditons even after her father's death, she thought that
she shouldn't be taxed because she was of confederate decent. Also, Emily had
killed her husband, who was considered a yankee in the town, and that behavior
was present during the old south era. Emily lived in the past, and the town
enabled her to do so, like the old mayor allowed her not to pay taxes. The
house that Emily lived in also represented the old south in that it was getting
old and falling apart, and about when this story took place the old south was
going down and making the transition to the new south. Also, the towns people
represented the new south becuase they were of a new generation and valued the
new southern ways, but the townspeople allowed Emily to do whatever she wanted
and kind of enabled her to carry out the old southern traditions, like when she
made the man at the pharmacy give her poison to kill her husband. The town
leaders though I think represented the new south and the new south's ideas,
because they tried to catch up with Emily on her taxes and tell her she was no
better than anyone else. The older people in the town represented the old south
and its traditions and the younger people the new south and its traditions.
Through symbolism Faulkner conveys a deeper message in the story, he uses
various elements of literature to describe the changes the South is facing and
about to face, and he uses vivid descriptions of the characters to convey the
view of various groups of people within southern society. Faulkner describes
the issuses that may occur between the old south followers and the new south
followers through strong symbolism.
"A Rose for Emily" is probably William Faulkner's most famous
and popular short story. It tells the tale of a woman, Emily Grierson,
psychologically disturbed from the pride of a family heritage that has
eliminated her ability to communicate with the continually evolving outside
world. This mental disturbance escalates into murder and the reader discovers
at the end just how advanced her psychosis has become as a result of this
distance from reality.
Why So Popular?
Several factors contribute to the lasting success of this story, not the
least of which is pure shock value. The very last sentences of the narrative
invite the reader into the dead Emily's room, where she has been keeping the
body of her murdered lover, and sleeping with the decaying body. Besides the
sheer entertainment of the story, however, "A Rose for Emily"
embodies a variety of themes that can be universally applied to every era.
These themes permeate the story, encouraging the reader to consider the overall
message that Faulkner attempts to relay throughout.
The Themes in "A Rose for Emily"
Possibly the most predominant theme in "A Rose for Emily" is
the tension between tradition and social evolution, the battle for preserving
heritage versus accepting change. Most of the other themes can be considered
subsidiary to this main idea: pride pitted against humility, mainly stemming
from Emily's extreme dedication to the name of her once great family; the
decline of the South as a result of technological advancement; selfish
isolation versus the need for community that is only realized with the
acceptance of others; the consideration of time in the wake of death.
Approaching the Identification and Analysis of Themes
Approaching William Faulkner’s work with an open mind is critical to
grasping his overall message. A main theme can usually be identified in his
work, but subsequent readings always reveal another level of interpretation.
One must try to isolate and analyze the themes separately in order to
understand fully the comprehensive meaning of the narrative. Here are some
helpful tips when embarking on a Faulkner journey:
1) Look at the setting, as it automatically introduces the theme. In
"A Rose for Emily" for example, the story is set in the Old South, at
a time when it was transitioning into modern America. This sets the stage for a
story about time, decay, and the consideration of tradition and modernity.
2) Consider the mode of narration. In "A Rose for Emily" the
narrative is in the first person, but this character remains unnamed. In his
anonimity he speaks for the whole town, and is a kind of representative of
their thoughts on the subject of Emily. This invites the reader to view the
situation with the town, as though one was a part of the community.
3) Take note of the language used to describe people, places, and things.
In " A Rose for Emily" the narrator uses multiple words describing
age, decay, heritage, tradition, and the old to new transition. This will tell
the reader much about what Faulkner is trying to say about his characters, and
about the story in general.
3 Upcoming Articles on Interpreting "A Rose for
Emily"
In the subsequent articles, the focus will be on three themes found
throughout the narrative of “A Rose for Emily.” Each article will delineate how
to approach the theme at hand through a discussion of the language Faulkner
employs, the specific relevance of the theme in the story, and the universal
application it has in every society.
The Rose as a Symbol of Love
Roses, in literature and the general daily experience, usually represent
love. Roses are given as tokens of affection, as a sign of devotion to the
individual to whom they are given. When viewed in this light, the rose seems an
odd choice for the title of this story: Emily’s story is disturbing, the tale
of a woman obsessed with her own heritage who never understood the true meaning
of love. This makes the title ironic, which seems to be Faulkner’s entire
point. By using the classic symbol of love to introduce the narrative, he is
leading the reader to a consideration of what the components of true love are.
Love is not the distorted narcissism that is Emily’s perception; it is a selfless
act of giving that builds relationships, not destroys them like in the story.
The Rose as a Tribute
Another way to look at the rose in the title “A Rose for Emily” is as a
token, a tribute. The narrator tells her story, the kind of person Emily was
and the personal actions that led to her demise. Again, Faulkner’s irony is
apparent. Tributes are usually something positive, a way for onlookers and
observers to understand a person or event as it relates to their own lives. The
story of Emily is anything but positive; it is disgusting, repulsive. So why a
tribute? Perhaps it is to serve as a reminder of the ugliness of
self-absorption, of the consequences of a life lived without love. The rose is
given as a tribute to a hideous person that the reader might be reminded of the
importance of self-giving and true devotion.
The Rose as a Symbol of Memory
Roses are also often used as memories, as a way to preserve a moment in
time or to keep a person close to one’s heart. They are dried and kept, not
only because they are beautiful, but usually because it is a way to retain a
precious time in one’s life. So why would Faulkner use such a symbol of beauty
and memory to present the horrific narrative of “A Rose for Emily”? Firstly,
the story is written in the form of a memory, the narrator speaking in the
first person about events that to him and the community were very real.
Secondly, however terrible the tale may be, it serves as a reminder to the
reader that some integral things in a person’s life should never be forgotten:
love, devotion, and selflessness. By presenting a woman who possessed none of
these attributes, Faulkner calls on his readers to remember the things that
make life beautiful, especially love. Hence the rose can be seen as a call to
memory.
Conclusions Drawn
As a symbol of love, as a tribute, or as a representative of memory, the
rose in the title “A Rose for Emily” presents a variety of interpretations.
Faulkner is not an author that can be definitively defined by one theory. His
writings are able to be analyzed on multiple levels, because this calls the
reader to consider all aspects of the information provided and draw one’s own
conclusion. His choice of the rose is testimony to this, as there is no one way
to interpret its use. The reader must decide Faulkner’s intention.
What Rose?
A symbol is
something that represents or reflects a deeper meaning or concept. We
see symbols every singe day. A flag, a peace sign, or even someone showing you
there symbolic finger during rush hour traffic are all examples or symbolism.
In William Faulkner's "A Rose For Emily", the symbolism he
uses is somewhat subtle, however, it is very consistent. Throughout
Faulkner's story he symbolizes a house, a painting, and even the story it's
self is a symbol.
At the very beginning of the story, when the
narrator is describing the house in which Ms Emily lived, we get our first
glimpse of symbolism. The way Faulkner describes the house, then and
now, actually represents Ms Emily's life. The paint and color of the
house represents Ms Emily's conscience. Earlier, the house is clean and
white, pure. As time goes on the house becomes decrepit, and sullied,
much like Ms Emily's conscience. The "select street" that she
lives on in the earlier years, which later becomes infected and surrounded by
cotton gins and garages, represents her place in society. While her
father was alive, and sometime after he had passed, Ms Emily was considered
high class. Suitors were deemed unworthy to claim her. As more
and more tragedy strikes her life, people no longer envy, but pity Ms Emily.
When Faulkner describes her house as "lifting it's stubborn and
coquettish decay above the cotton...", he is describing Ms Emily's
unyielding personality.
The painting that Faulkner describes of Ms Emily
and her father is symbolic of the two's relationship with one another.
Ms Emily's father was very demanding, and very strict. Faulkner
symbolizes her father's fierceness by having him grasping a horsewhip in the
picture. Her father's back is turned towards her, symbolizing his
neglect and lack of attention to his daughter.
