William Faulkner’s short story A Rose for Emily was one of his first published short stories, published in Forum magazine in 1930. “A Rose for Emily” has become one of Faulkner’s most read and praised works due to its portrayal of aberrant psychological and political ideas. In “A Rose for Emily”, Faulkner portrays the death of the traditional Southern way of life through his characters, including Miss Emily and the townspeople, places, such as Emily’s home and the town, and events that take place within the town. The primary portrayal of the death of the Southern way of life in the post-Civil War era is seen through the decay of Miss Emily Grierson. Miss Emily serves as a symbol for the traditional way of life in the Old South and her slow
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Prior to the death of her father Emily was slender and appealing, also she was depicted as being dressed in white, a symbol for the purity of the traditional Southern lifestyle. Following the death of her father Emily’s physical decay began, but it was only demonstrated in a more subtle manner through Emily’s haircut. The first time the townspeople saw Emily following her father’s death she had cut her hair, which made presented her as a picture of innocence with a “resemblance to those angels in colored church windows” (par. 27). The innocence and childlike appearance portrayed by Emily’s physical transformation following her father’s death demonstrated her dependence on her father. Further decay of Miss Emily’s physical appearance comes with the introduction of Homer Barron, a northerner. The introduction of Homer Barron demonstrates the infiltration of the South by Northern industry, since Homer is a foreman that is bringing about great changes within the town. After Homer comes to the town of Jefferson Emily’s decay becomes more evident. After this point, Emily is no longer associated with the pure and pristine white in which she was dressed when she was with her father, rather she is now tainted and surrounded by grey and black. After the arrival of Homer Emily became thinner and she …show more content…
However, unlike Miss Emily, the rest of the town embraces this change, enabling a more rapid decay of traditionalism. Newer generations did not view the Southern aristocracy in the same way that the older generations did, instead of showing a great deal of respect towards Miss Emily these newer generations were discontent with the favoritism that was demonstrated towards her (par. 4). Newer generations of children also embraced the changed brought about by the North, in this case by Homer. The younger boys would trail around Homer and seemed to be enamored by him, however older townspeople criticized Miss Emily when she began to be seen with Homer, saying that “of course a Grierson would not think seriously of a Northerner,” (par. 28-30). This depicts not only the loss of the Southern way of life between generations as well as the tensions that remained between the North and the South, especially within the older
Prior to the death of her father Emily was slender and appealing, also she was depicted as being dressed in white, a symbol for the purity of the traditional Southern lifestyle. Following the death of her father Emily’s physical decay began, but it was only demonstrated in a more subtle manner through Emily’s haircut. The first time the townspeople saw Emily following her father’s death she had cut her hair, which made presented her as a picture of innocence with a “resemblance to those angels in colored church windows” (par. 27). The innocence and childlike appearance portrayed by Emily’s physical transformation following her father’s death demonstrated her dependence on her father. Further decay of Miss Emily’s physical appearance comes with the introduction of Homer Barron, a northerner. The introduction of Homer Barron demonstrates the infiltration of the South by Northern industry, since Homer is a foreman that is bringing about great changes within the town. After Homer comes to the town of Jefferson Emily’s decay becomes more evident. After this point, Emily is no longer associated with the pure and pristine white in which she was dressed when she was with her father, rather she is now tainted and surrounded by grey and black. After the arrival of Homer Emily became thinner and she …show more content…
However, unlike Miss Emily, the rest of the town embraces this change, enabling a more rapid decay of traditionalism. Newer generations did not view the Southern aristocracy in the same way that the older generations did, instead of showing a great deal of respect towards Miss Emily these newer generations were discontent with the favoritism that was demonstrated towards her (par. 4). Newer generations of children also embraced the changed brought about by the North, in this case by Homer. The younger boys would trail around Homer and seemed to be enamored by him, however older townspeople criticized Miss Emily when she began to be seen with Homer, saying that “of course a Grierson would not think seriously of a Northerner,” (par. 28-30). This depicts not only the loss of the Southern way of life between generations as well as the tensions that remained between the North and the South, especially within the older