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"A Rose For Emily"
Traditionally, authors use symbolism as a way to represent the intangible qualities of the characters, places, and events in their writings. In his short story A Rose for Emily, William Faulkner uses symbolism to compare the Grierson house with Emily Griersons physical deterioration, her shift in social standing, and her reluctance to accept change.
When compared chronologically, the Grierson house is used to symbolize Miss Emilys physical attributes. In its prime, the Grierson house is described as white, decorated with cupolas, spires, and scrolled balconies in the heavily lightsome style of the seventies (Faulkner 15). This description suggests that the house is built not only for function, but also to impress and engage the attention of the other townspeople. Similarly, the wealthy women of the era, Emily Grierson not withstanding, were dressed in a conspicuous manner. This is because their appearance was perceived as a direct reflection on their husbands and/or fathers. This display of wealth was designed by men to give an impression of wealth to onlookers. Her father regarded Emily, as property. Her significance to him was strongly decorative, just as their overly lavish home was. As the plot progresses, the reader is clearly made aware of the physical decline of both the house and Miss Emily. Just as the house is described as smelling of dust and disuse, evidence of Emilys own aging is given when her voice in similarly said to be harsh, and rusty, as if from disuse (15-18). Ultimately, at the time of Emilys death, the house is seen by the townspeople as an eyesore among eyesores, and Miss Emily is regarded as a fallen monument (15). Both are empty, and lifeless; neither is even remotely representative of their former splendor.
Just as their physical characteristics, Faulkner uses the Grierson house as a symbol for Miss Emilys change in social status. In its prime, the house was big, and squarish, and located on Jefferson's most select street (15). This description gives the reader the impression that the residence was extremely solid, and also larger than life, almost gothic in nature, and seemingly resistant to the petty problems of the common people. The members of the Grierson family, especially Emily, were also considered to be strong and powerful. The townspeople regarded them as stately. Moreover, Emily, as the last living Grierson, came to symbolize her families, and possibly the entire souths, rich past. The townspeoples revelation of Emily soon decayed, however, once it was rumored that she was left no money, only the house, in her fathers will. Also, her scandalous appearances with Homer Barron further lessened her reputation in the public eye. The prestige and desirability of the Grierson house fell right along side Miss Emilys name.
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Perhaps the most significant comparison occurs when the Grierson house is used to symbolize Emily Griersons unwillingness to accept change. Emily Grierson held tightly to her familys affluent past. A good example of this occurred when representatives were sent to her home to collect her late taxes. She completely rejected her responsibility to the town by referring the men to a time when the since departed mayor, Colonel Sartoris, remitted her taxes (15). Miss Emily and the house show further examples of their disregard for progress when Emily denies the Grierson house a number, and a mailbox, just as Emily herself refused to be labeled or to be associated with anything as modernistic and common as a mailbox. Even when she was left alone, a pauper, and humanized, she absolutely refused to be viewed with pity (18). In fact she demanded more than ever the recognition of her dignity as the last Grierson (1). Likewise, just as Emily held herself a little too high for what she was, the house is presented as Lifting its stubborn and Coquettish decay above the cotton wagons and gasoline pumps (15). The cotton wagons and gasoline pumps in this description are used to symbolize what Emily must see as the mostly unimportant and purposeless townspeople. This single comparison provides evidence that Emily Grierson and her familys house are strongly related with one another.
Faulkner creates a problem in the story when he "…assigned a different date to the remission of Miss Emily's taxes and a specific date to her father's death…" (Moore 18). Critic Gene Moore devises a solution to the chronological problem by fixing the date of Emily's father's death (15). This solution will help solve all the problems of time.
One of the main conflicts in the story is the "…pragmatic present against the set mores of the past" (Faulkner 150). Miss Emily had no intentions of changing her ways to please the people of the present. In the story, there was a generation that corresponded with each time period. In Miss Emily's generation she "…had been a tradition, a duty, and a care; a sort of hereditary obligation upon the town…" (7). She was well respected and liked in the community. The conflict developed "when the next generation, with its more modern ideas, became mayors and aldermen…" (7). They did not understand the ways of Miss Emily and therefore they disapproved of it. As the story progressed "…the newer generation became the backbone and the spirit of the town…" (44). This left Miss Emily and her generation in the dark. Along with the difference between the generations, there is "…the difference between the attitude of Judge Stevens and the attitude of the young man who comes to him about the "smell" at Emily's place" (West 14). The difference in age causes the conflict. Miss Emily's reputation in the town had vanished with the past. Another conflict of the story is the different views of the North and the South. Miss Emily is said to be "…postwar South" (Montenyohl ). She grew up in the generation that followed the war. Homer represents the north as a Yankee (West 14). On the other hand, "…Emily is a 'monument' of Southern gentility" (14). In this example, Faulkner is describing the relationship between the Southerner and his past, the Southerner of the present, and the Yankee from the North (14). Each of these pairs has their own views and beliefs that cause conflict in the story.
So, it should now be clear to the analytical reader that the relationship between the Grierson house and Miss Emily Griersons, physical deterioration, shift in social standing, and reluctance to accept change, is too precise to be viewed as coincidental. It is precisely this open usage of symbolism, and expert use of foreshadowing, that earned both William Faulkner and A Rose for Emily, their places among the classics. Works Cited
Faulkner, William. "A Rose for 'A Rose for Emily.'" Literature for Composition. Ed. Sylvan Barnet, et al. New York HarperCollins, 4th ed. 16.
Moore, Gene M. Of Time and Its Mathematical Progression Problems of Chronology in Faulkners A Rose for Emily.' April 1.
West, Ray B., Jr. Atmosphere and Theme in A Rose for Emily. Readings on William Faulkner. Clarice Swisher. San Diego Greenhaven, 18.
Montenyohl, Eric L. Folklore and Faulkner Toward an Expansion of the Relations of Folklore and Literature. Motif 7. February 18.
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