“A symbol is a person, object, action, place, or event that, in addition to its literal meaning, suggests a more complex meaning or range of meanings.” (Kirszner and Madell 403) Not only are symbols used frequently in literature, but also used in our every day lives. I never realized how many symbols I encounter on a daily basis. When I look down and see my engagement ring, it is a symbol of the relationship between my fiancé and I and a symbol of his promise to marry me. When I’m driving and see the golden arches, I don’t need to see the name of the place because I know I’m driving by a McDonald’s. “A Rose For Emily” written by William Faulkner has some great examples of symbolism that really stuck out to me. The literal definition of the
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The use of Emily’s house as a symbol in this story helped to show the conflict within herself. It seemed as though everything that happened to the house also happened to Emily. When Emily was young and her mind was clear, the house stood as a symbol of wealth in the neighborhood. Then, as the house decayed, so did Emily. Not just in the physical sense, but mentally as well. Emily and her house also represented the secret that they shared, Homer Barron. The pocket watch was a great way to symbolize time in the story. It was clear that and we was having a difficult time accepting that the times were changing, so the fact that Faulkner decided to describe the watch as being invisible was really great. Finally, I think that the use of the rose as a symbol but only mentioned in the title is a great way to start a story that begins with the main character’s death. Since Emily only gets to experience eternal love with Homer after she dies, using the title “A Rose for Emily,” is like saying that this story is about how Emily finally finds love. Because even though this story is not a conventional love story, it is about a woman who finally gets to spend eternity with the love of her
The use of Emily’s house as a symbol in this story helped to show the conflict within herself. It seemed as though everything that happened to the house also happened to Emily. When Emily was young and her mind was clear, the house stood as a symbol of wealth in the neighborhood. Then, as the house decayed, so did Emily. Not just in the physical sense, but mentally as well. Emily and her house also represented the secret that they shared, Homer Barron. The pocket watch was a great way to symbolize time in the story. It was clear that and we was having a difficult time accepting that the times were changing, so the fact that Faulkner decided to describe the watch as being invisible was really great. Finally, I think that the use of the rose as a symbol but only mentioned in the title is a great way to start a story that begins with the main character’s death. Since Emily only gets to experience eternal love with Homer after she dies, using the title “A Rose for Emily,” is like saying that this story is about how Emily finally finds love. Because even though this story is not a conventional love story, it is about a woman who finally gets to spend eternity with the love of her