In the short story, "A Rose for Emily" by William Faulkner, symbolism is used frequently throughout the story. There are several different symbolic subjects in this story such as the house, Miss Emily as a "monument," Homer and the "Yankee" views, and Miss Emily's old Negro servant who represents death in the story.
Miss Emily is compared to her house in many different ways, there is the description of the decaying house which symbolizes Miss Emily's physical and emotional decay, and as well as her mental problems. The representation between Miss Emily and the house is shown through the constant neglect that is given to her from the neighbors and people in the town. Faulkner in one point makes, the house is described to be "stubborn and unrelenting," as Miss Emily portrays the same aspects. Miss Emily shows her stubbornness when she doesn't let the new guard attach metal numbers above her door. Also many other signs of this stubbornness is when Miss Emily refuses to believe that her father is dead and when she refuses to pay taxes. This retracts back to the house on how it rejects progression and updating, so does Miss Emily, as they become decaying symbols of their dying generation. Miss Emily really is representing the "Old South," her southern heritage and her points of view are given through her actions. That's where she gets her stubbornness and attitude from the strong characteristics of her Southern heritage. She refused to believe that the times where changing and refused to change into the new society like everyone else in the town was doing. The Southern heritage is also represented through Miss Emily's strict and repetitive ways. The story basically addresses the changes in the South after the Civil War. Miss Emily is considered a "monument" of the Southern manners and her past values that she has. The Old South generations were dying quickly by the changing in traditions and to the town.