A Rose For Emily By William Falkner Analysis

“A Rose for Emily” is a short story written by William Falkner. The story begins with the announcement of the death of Miss Emily Grierson, a spinster living in the American South in the late nineteenth century. She is plagued by loss throughout the story the death of her father, the loss of her love, and the loss of the customs and attitudes of the previous generation. Emily can’t let go of her past, the people she lost, the era in which she was raised, and the antebellum beliefs of the past. Emily Grierson came from a time when well-to-do people weren’t questioned in this sense she was above the law. One way the story emphasizes how she is seemingly above the law is her reaction to having a tax notice mailed to her. "I have no taxes in Jefferson. Colonel Sartoris explained it to me. Perhaps one of you can gain access to the city records and satisfy yourselves." Having previously been told she no longer owed taxes Miss Emily refused to listen to the spokesman that had been sent to speak with her. "But there is nothing on the books to show that, you see We must go by the--.” When he tries to explain it to her she effectively shuts him down by telling him, “See Colonel Sartoris. I have no taxes in Jefferson.” and having her servant see him out the door. She denies owing the taxes and she does it in such a way that the city doesn’t bother her …show more content…
"Dammit, sir," Judge Stevens said, "will you accuse a lady to her face of smelling bad?" The judge was taken aback by the suggestion of telling a woman her property smelled because it clashed with his social mores. “They broke open the cellar door and sprinkled lime there, and in all the outbuildings.” Instead of Miss Emily being told to clean up her property it was done for her. Freed from having to follow the law yet again Miss Emily goes on with her