Old South Symbolism

In this story the author Faulkner uses Emily and her house as a symbol of the old South. In this story Emily’s house and how the people in town treat her is resembling the past and the South. Her house used to be on the best street in the town and the house itself used to be decorated extravagantly. Now it is an industrial area with gas stations and buildings are all around it and the house is out of place just like the South's old values are out of place in this changing society. The house is run down, the lawn is very overgrown, and the paint is worn off and chipping. Emily’s house is the only thing left in their town that resembles the old South. Emily represents the old South as well and is a symbolic character. For example, Emily …show more content…
The author Faulkner is showing that the south didn’t want to face its past and wanted to keep it on the down low They weren’t able to honestly face its past just like the townspeople. They knew what was going on in Emily’s house and that she killed Homer but they didn’t want to be honest and accept the fact that he was dead. They didn’t want to have to deal with the problem They just pushed it under and didn’t want to bring it to the surface until after Emily was buried and in the ground decently before they opened the bedroom up downstairs even though they knew what they were going to find. In the story there is evidence that shows that the townspeople knew or at least suspected that Homer’s dead body is causing the horrible smell that is coming from Emily’s house. The smell is comes from the house shortly after Homer disappears and they realize that Emily doesn’t leave her house. There was multiple complaints about the smell and the mayor said that is it probably a snake or rat that Emily’s servant killed. Then townsmen sneak onto Emily’s property at night and put lime through the window and in all of the outbuildings to try to get rid of the smell. They seem to understand that the smell is from a decomposing body of some kind. The fact that they are unwilling to confront her about the smell, show that they are suspicious