“A Rose for Emily” is a short story by William Faulkner. The events of it revolve around Miss Emily Grierson and her life spent in a small town in post civil war Mississippi (Faulkner 30). Emily struggles with accepting the changes in life and casts herself away from society for most of her life, making herself a mysterious character. She never bends her will to anyone around her and lives her life the way she sees fit all the way up to her death. Three defining traits of Emily Grierson are her strength, controlling attitude, and traditional values. As a result of a difficult upbringing, Emily found strength that would drastically affect her life. Although raised in a wealthy and respected family, Emily’s father was incredibly controlling of her life (32). All the way into adulthood Emily had to withstand his domineering personality, as he would refuse any man who attempted to court
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It is no coincidence that Faulkner chose to express Emily’s old-fashioned values during his first description of her, when he writes that she is “a tradition, a duty, and a care” (30). This element of her character is crucial since this is the driving force behind most of the conflict within the story. Emily was very proud of herself and her image as a lady from a respected family. She refuses to allow metal postal numbers to be attached to the front of her house; this is a symbol of her traditional values being spread onto her home as well (35). When city officials come to collect taxes from her, Emily claims a decades old agreement with Colonel Sartoris saves her from paying them (31). However, Emily is so outdated in her knowledge of the modern world that she did not realize that Colonel Sartoris has been dead for ten years (31). Emily’s traditional values not only reflect her personal outlook but also show proof that she has never actually moved on in life with the rest of her
It is no coincidence that Faulkner chose to express Emily’s old-fashioned values during his first description of her, when he writes that she is “a tradition, a duty, and a care” (30). This element of her character is crucial since this is the driving force behind most of the conflict within the story. Emily was very proud of herself and her image as a lady from a respected family. She refuses to allow metal postal numbers to be attached to the front of her house; this is a symbol of her traditional values being spread onto her home as well (35). When city officials come to collect taxes from her, Emily claims a decades old agreement with Colonel Sartoris saves her from paying them (31). However, Emily is so outdated in her knowledge of the modern world that she did not realize that Colonel Sartoris has been dead for ten years (31). Emily’s traditional values not only reflect her personal outlook but also show proof that she has never actually moved on in life with the rest of her