Never judge a book by its cover, an extremely true cliche especially when you live in a small town, and we never really know who is lurking next. The setting for A Rose for Emily by William Faulkner is posting civil war in the deep south at Jefferson, a small town. The setting gives the reader an understanding of the values and beliefs system set up during that time period. Throughout the story, the reader receives insight on why Emily and the whole town acts in such an interesting manner. Faulkner states that “It was a big, squarish frame house that had once been white, decorated with cupolas and spires and scrolled balconies in the heavily lightsome style of the seventies, set on what had once been our most select street,” and “...dating
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“That was two years after her father’s death and a short time after her sweetheart—the one we believed would marry her—had deserted her.” after Emily's father died she ends up alone, every romantic interest was chased away by her dad, leaving her without any male influence for the first time. During that time period, women were taught that their main goal in life is to find a husband and have a family, without either Emily felt abnormal and incomplete. With the constant gossip and pity, Emily started the search to find a husband, but even after she found Homer she still received criticism “'Of course a Grierson would not think seriously of a Northerner, a day laborer.' But there were still others, older people, who said that even grief could not cause a real lady to forget noblesse oblige -- without calling it noblesse oblige”. The people of Jefferson are dissatisfied with Homer’s and Emily's relationship because they feel that Homer is below Emily's social status, yet she still decides to continue their relationship. The gossip clarifies that the people in Jefferson live in the time period which saw women as two things birth givers and cooks. The narrator uses the setting to allow the reader insight into the ways the people of Jefferson think all while leaving some mystery to Emily character, and all ending the story with a twist. The reader can also
“That was two years after her father’s death and a short time after her sweetheart—the one we believed would marry her—had deserted her.” after Emily's father died she ends up alone, every romantic interest was chased away by her dad, leaving her without any male influence for the first time. During that time period, women were taught that their main goal in life is to find a husband and have a family, without either Emily felt abnormal and incomplete. With the constant gossip and pity, Emily started the search to find a husband, but even after she found Homer she still received criticism “'Of course a Grierson would not think seriously of a Northerner, a day laborer.' But there were still others, older people, who said that even grief could not cause a real lady to forget noblesse oblige -- without calling it noblesse oblige”. The people of Jefferson are dissatisfied with Homer’s and Emily's relationship because they feel that Homer is below Emily's social status, yet she still decides to continue their relationship. The gossip clarifies that the people in Jefferson live in the time period which saw women as two things birth givers and cooks. The narrator uses the setting to allow the reader insight into the ways the people of Jefferson think all while leaving some mystery to Emily character, and all ending the story with a twist. The reader can also