“A Rose for Emily” Critical Analysis
“In good fiction, certain of the details will tend to accumulate meaning from the action of the story itself, and when this happens they become symbolic in the way they work” (O’Connor). In William Faulkner’s “A Rose for Emily,” many components that may be initially dismissed in a passage, through intelligent writing, gather a deeper meaning. Homer, for example, appears to be just another tragedy to strike the pathetic life of Emily Grierson. However, many features linked to Homer leave the reader asking questions of the purpose and meaning behind his character. Each interaction with his character seems purely plot driven initially, but as the story unravels, they adopt a deeper meaning, forcing the reader …show more content…
In anticipation of her relationship with Homer, Emily purchased a full wardrobe of men’s clothing as well as “a man 's toilet set in silver, with the letters H. B. on each piece” (Faulkner PAGE NUMBER). Emily, having very little else to offer to a man than her wealth, dotes all of her resources on Homer through material goods. This attempt to welcome in Northern progression through treasured items of tradition, unfortunately, are not enough to woo Homer Barron. Realizing this, Emily plots Homer’s demise, which will finally allow her to be in control of progression instead of constantly chasing progression. However, this victory is short lived; Emily’s guilt causes her to hoard all of Homer’s gifts in a locked room upstairs, that she may only hope one day to be ready to begin the game of catch-up she had previously grown tired of. Upon opening Homer’s impromptu tomb, the townspeople enter a room …show more content…
This is also seen in the description of her parlor: “It was furnished in heavy, leather-covered furniture. When the Negro opened the blinds of one window, they could see that the leather was cracked; and when they sat down, a faint dust rose” (Faulkner PAGE NUMBER) Emily’s deeper flaws are unseen on the surface, but in the stark light of day, her pursuit of an impressive pretense falls flat. This attempt to maintain the pristine, luxurious ways of tradition becomes a nostalgic, bittersweet, and almost pathetic aura presented through the syntax. In her effort to freeze that moment in time, she had isolated herself even more from the town and even those things that she loved by locking them
“In good fiction, certain of the details will tend to accumulate meaning from the action of the story itself, and when this happens they become symbolic in the way they work” (O’Connor). In William Faulkner’s “A Rose for Emily,” many components that may be initially dismissed in a passage, through intelligent writing, gather a deeper meaning. Homer, for example, appears to be just another tragedy to strike the pathetic life of Emily Grierson. However, many features linked to Homer leave the reader asking questions of the purpose and meaning behind his character. Each interaction with his character seems purely plot driven initially, but as the story unravels, they adopt a deeper meaning, forcing the reader …show more content…
In anticipation of her relationship with Homer, Emily purchased a full wardrobe of men’s clothing as well as “a man 's toilet set in silver, with the letters H. B. on each piece” (Faulkner PAGE NUMBER). Emily, having very little else to offer to a man than her wealth, dotes all of her resources on Homer through material goods. This attempt to welcome in Northern progression through treasured items of tradition, unfortunately, are not enough to woo Homer Barron. Realizing this, Emily plots Homer’s demise, which will finally allow her to be in control of progression instead of constantly chasing progression. However, this victory is short lived; Emily’s guilt causes her to hoard all of Homer’s gifts in a locked room upstairs, that she may only hope one day to be ready to begin the game of catch-up she had previously grown tired of. Upon opening Homer’s impromptu tomb, the townspeople enter a room …show more content…
This is also seen in the description of her parlor: “It was furnished in heavy, leather-covered furniture. When the Negro opened the blinds of one window, they could see that the leather was cracked; and when they sat down, a faint dust rose” (Faulkner PAGE NUMBER) Emily’s deeper flaws are unseen on the surface, but in the stark light of day, her pursuit of an impressive pretense falls flat. This attempt to maintain the pristine, luxurious ways of tradition becomes a nostalgic, bittersweet, and almost pathetic aura presented through the syntax. In her effort to freeze that moment in time, she had isolated herself even more from the town and even those things that she loved by locking them