First, Emily’s mother was never mentioned in the story, so we assume that it has always been her and her father. He is a man of the “old south” which means he is high-minded. He controlled her life until his death, and even continued from the grave. He severely separated her from the town especially when it came to men. Mr. Grierson felt like she was too good for all of them, so he set her up for a way of life that was nearly impossible to escape. She never had any interaction with anyone outside the house unless he invited people over. She lived an isolated life, which is no way to live. After her father’s death, she did not know how to live without him. She was a captive for so long that she did not know what to expect from the outside world.
