A Rose for Emily’s use of metaphor and unique symbols fuse together to create a southern gothic tale of a murderous, abandoned, elderly woman who fears the unknown and seeks companionship. William Faulkner uses a unique literary device in which the narrator is the entire town rather than one person, Miss Emily is seen through gossip and rumours rather than her true nature. Faulkner uses this way of storytelling to create an interesting yet thought provoking short story.
A Rose for Emily is a southern gothic story and the genre is used in a unique way. The most prominent southern gothic theme is the decay of something that was once grand. Before Miss Emily’s father passed away, the Grierson house is described as “a big, …show more content…
The sporadic storytelling creates an eerie mood in which the reader knows very little, but very much at the same time. The unknowingness shows the disconnect of humanity. Miss Emily is not cared about but for the use of conversation. At first, she is cared for by the Jefferson government and they do not make her pay taxes. As time progresses and the government officials are replaced Miss Emily has several tax collectors come to her home. For a brief period she teaches China-Painting lessons but fewer and fewer students would go to her lessons until Miss Emily shut her door to the public. The gradual decline of hospitality the town shows towards Miss Emily illustrates the gradual decline we are showing each other.
William Faulkner’s unique storytelling is seen in all five parts of the story and truly adds to the themes and motifs of the story. A Rose for Emily is a frightening story with a horrid beauty to it. The thought-provoking themes and use of words causes one to feel as the story progresses. After the resolution of the story, it sticks with the reader and causes one to ponder the themes introduced in the