In A Rose For Emily by William Faulkner, Emily does not deserve the level of sympathy that Faulkner gives her, despite her deserving the “rose” of respect that Faulkner gives her. Faulkner gives this respect to Emily due to her position as a symbol of Southern traditions and values. She shows the traditions and values of her home when she refuses to change by having a mailbox or paying taxes, even when it is forced upon her by the town. By refusing to change and remaining steadfast in her ways, Emily shows Southern values and traditions, earning Faulkner’s “rose” of respect for her dying way of life.
