Symbols In William Faulkner's A Rose For Emily

In the story “A Rose for Emily” it has many symbols that gives the story a new meaning. Symbols are used to show a hidden meaning to the story. It also helps you understand the story in a whole new perspective. Which is what the author is trying to do so you understand the story easier than it is. For example, a lion can mean like a king or power. Symbols are used in everyday life like shapes, monuments, or art. An example for it is the monuments or statues they have so many meanings like loyalty or a heroic deed.
In the short story “A Rose for Emily” it tells a story of woman whose name is Emily Grierson who is isolated from everyone since her father Mr. Grierson is a very strict and over protective man. Well Mr. Grierson had told a tale …show more content…
Soon years pass Emily has aged to the point her hair turned grey and no one knows where Homer went. Emily then passes away and the town goes to her house to claim it since she never paid taxes for it. They go into her room and find Homer Barron’s remains on Emily’s bed. The town’s people soon see a long grey hair on a pillow next to homer’s skeleton which belong to Emily.
William Faulkner’s “A Rose for Emily” many symbols are used through the story in various forms for explaining it. Miss Emily Grierson is used to represent a fallen monument. When Miss Emily grew older she started to lose her looks and her mind. In an article named “The Significance of Symbolism in “A Rose for Emily” the author explains that “Emily herself is described as a fallen monument, suggesting that she has let herself go over the years. She is beautiful in her younger days but as she grows older she becomes ugly and bloated. This explain that Emily has go downhill with her physical appearance. which says that a beautiful girl destroyed her physical appearance, just like monument loses its meaning when it falls. She also represents an old south attitude, which means that she is stubborn and can’t accept things. In article “Emily’s Rose” by Hearst Seattle Media they explain how her attitude is and what it represents “the world is all around her, but she clings to her tradition and makes a monument out of her home. She symbolizes tradition and a stubborn clinging to the past, no matter what progress or changes occur”. Emily’s old south attitude is basically her not accepting the present or the new things that are happening around her. Which basically gives her the necrophiliac attitude since she can’t let go of the people she loves that passed away. The final symbol Emily represents is a gothic