In the short story, “A Rose for Emily”, William Faulkner portrays the character of Miss Emily as a mysterious woman trying to establish her belief by ignoring to accept changes and reality, This character trait is repeated throughout the story by the narrator’s commentary on various incidents. Hence, in the short story Miss Emily’s fight against reality is shown by depicting her reaction to deaths, her refusal to accept societal changes by clinging onto the past, and her inability to accept life’s disappointments. However, Miss Emily’s sense of pride and insanity help her fight against reality and ultimately triumph over it by living in her world of delusion.
Death of a loved one can be difficult to deal with unless one comes to terms with …show more content…
However, Miss Emily refuses to change with society and maintains her stubbornness with regards to accepting changes. In the story, “A Rose for Emily”, by William Faulkner, Miss Emily says, “I have no taxes in Jefferson” (156), and this refusal to pay her taxes is repeated several times throughout the story. When Miss Emily’s father passed away, Colonel Sartoris had informed Miss Emily had she would not have to pay her taxes, however when the newer generation demands her to pay her taxes as per the rules she refuses to come to terms with the change and the reality. The Colonel had died many years ago taking with him this agreement, however Miss Emily denies to acknowledge the present and tells the new generation members to go ask the Colonel; who has actually passed away years ago to explain the agreement to them. Through her constant refusal to accept the changed tax status and her referring to the Colonel as an alive man, Miss Emily demonstrates her stubbornness, pride, insanity and her desire to firmly hold onto the past, once again similar to a child she wanted to cling onto the tax status like children want to hold onto their toys and continue residing in her delusion. Further, Miss Emily once again refuses to accept change and the new ways of society when the town of Jefferson introduces a free postal delivery service. The narrator says, “Miss Emily alone refused to let them fasten the metal numbers above her door and attach a mailbox to it” hence, once again denying the need for change. This shows how Miss Emily wants to avoid the reality and continue holding onto the past and her past ways of life. As a result, she further isolates herself from society by refusing a method of communication. Miss Emily instead of integrating into society as time passes by, recedes into her loneliness. Her desire to isolate herself from society and its ways again hints at her insanity and demonstrates her
Death of a loved one can be difficult to deal with unless one comes to terms with …show more content…
However, Miss Emily refuses to change with society and maintains her stubbornness with regards to accepting changes. In the story, “A Rose for Emily”, by William Faulkner, Miss Emily says, “I have no taxes in Jefferson” (156), and this refusal to pay her taxes is repeated several times throughout the story. When Miss Emily’s father passed away, Colonel Sartoris had informed Miss Emily had she would not have to pay her taxes, however when the newer generation demands her to pay her taxes as per the rules she refuses to come to terms with the change and the reality. The Colonel had died many years ago taking with him this agreement, however Miss Emily denies to acknowledge the present and tells the new generation members to go ask the Colonel; who has actually passed away years ago to explain the agreement to them. Through her constant refusal to accept the changed tax status and her referring to the Colonel as an alive man, Miss Emily demonstrates her stubbornness, pride, insanity and her desire to firmly hold onto the past, once again similar to a child she wanted to cling onto the tax status like children want to hold onto their toys and continue residing in her delusion. Further, Miss Emily once again refuses to accept change and the new ways of society when the town of Jefferson introduces a free postal delivery service. The narrator says, “Miss Emily alone refused to let them fasten the metal numbers above her door and attach a mailbox to it” hence, once again denying the need for change. This shows how Miss Emily wants to avoid the reality and continue holding onto the past and her past ways of life. As a result, she further isolates herself from society by refusing a method of communication. Miss Emily instead of integrating into society as time passes by, recedes into her loneliness. Her desire to isolate herself from society and its ways again hints at her insanity and demonstrates her