“We did not say she was crazy then. We believed she had to do that. We remembered all the young men her father had driven away, and we knew that with nothing left, she would have to cling to that which had robbed her, as people will (136). “A Rose for Emily” is a short story written by William Faulkner during the transition of the south from the antebellum era towards the modern future. I chose the last paragraph in the second portion of the story. In this portion of the story Emily’s father has just recently passed away. After his passing Emily exhibited odd behavior such as refusing to admit her Father’s death and the refusal to give up his body many days after his death. The passage I chose is the townspeople commenting on her strange
…show more content…
This was an unusual circumstance because during the Antebellum era it was common for high class women to be courted and married off at a young age. However, Emily’s upbringing was very different. Her father, as the text explains, drove away all male suitors that wished to marry Emily. Therefore, her father was the only form of male love that Emily had known throughout her life. When he was passed away so did the love. Emily was not acting out of twisted hate with her behavior, but rather she was acting out of desperation for love. After remembering the Emily’s past had with her father, the townspeople do not see her as “crazy” for living in denial of her father’s death days after his passing. The town’s people view her behavior as rational for her to not want to give up his body. We know they thought this because they stated “we did not say she was crazy then. We believed she had to do that” (36). The words “she had to do that” show that they believed that her actions were beyond her control. She had no ability to react in any other manner than she did because of the situation she was thrust in. There was nothing crazy about her wanting to stay close to the only man she received love …show more content…
The last portion of the sentence in the paragraph stated that Emily “would have to cling to that which had robbed her, as people will” (36). The language used here is very strong and intense. Words and phrases such as “would have to”, “cling” and “robbed” are all forceful words. The phrase “would have to” shows that her behavior was the only course of action that she was able to take. This means that Emily was not using free will. Therefore, her actions were forced. Also, the word “cling” is a powerful word because it gives an individual the mental picture of someone holding tight. Emily had to hold tight to her father and his love even after his death so that she could try to keep some of the emotions they shared for herself. The words “robbed” show the criminal side of Emily’s father. This word tells the readers that what her father had done to Emily by driving away men to court her was wrong. When people use the word “rob” it typically means that something that someone owns or has the rights to has been taken away. This notifies the readers that something was explicitly taken away from Emily that was hers. In this case, I believe what was rightfully Emily’s, was love from another man. The love that she received from her father was the only love she had known which also was taken away from
This was an unusual circumstance because during the Antebellum era it was common for high class women to be courted and married off at a young age. However, Emily’s upbringing was very different. Her father, as the text explains, drove away all male suitors that wished to marry Emily. Therefore, her father was the only form of male love that Emily had known throughout her life. When he was passed away so did the love. Emily was not acting out of twisted hate with her behavior, but rather she was acting out of desperation for love. After remembering the Emily’s past had with her father, the townspeople do not see her as “crazy” for living in denial of her father’s death days after his passing. The town’s people view her behavior as rational for her to not want to give up his body. We know they thought this because they stated “we did not say she was crazy then. We believed she had to do that” (36). The words “she had to do that” show that they believed that her actions were beyond her control. She had no ability to react in any other manner than she did because of the situation she was thrust in. There was nothing crazy about her wanting to stay close to the only man she received love …show more content…
The last portion of the sentence in the paragraph stated that Emily “would have to cling to that which had robbed her, as people will” (36). The language used here is very strong and intense. Words and phrases such as “would have to”, “cling” and “robbed” are all forceful words. The phrase “would have to” shows that her behavior was the only course of action that she was able to take. This means that Emily was not using free will. Therefore, her actions were forced. Also, the word “cling” is a powerful word because it gives an individual the mental picture of someone holding tight. Emily had to hold tight to her father and his love even after his death so that she could try to keep some of the emotions they shared for herself. The words “robbed” show the criminal side of Emily’s father. This word tells the readers that what her father had done to Emily by driving away men to court her was wrong. When people use the word “rob” it typically means that something that someone owns or has the rights to has been taken away. This notifies the readers that something was explicitly taken away from Emily that was hers. In this case, I believe what was rightfully Emily’s, was love from another man. The love that she received from her father was the only love she had known which also was taken away from