Throughout human history, stories have been the preferred form for expression of moral commitments. Narrative is a primary means for testing with concrete particularizations the benefits and disadvantages of specific ethical decisions. Narrative retellability and rereadability ensure that such examinations will not too easily crystallize into mere dogma. (Karl Kroeber, Retelling and Rereading, Le Guin, pg. 189).
William Faulkner's short story "A Rose For Emily" presents three major issues to the audience that ensure the retellability and rereadability of this narrative: ethics, passage of time, and death. The reader can be torn by having pity on a murderer by acknowledging the reasons for the crime. Faulkner's character portrayal and setting details illustrate the conflict between past and present. Finally, decay and death imagery is pervasive throughout the text, which leaves the reader agitated. All of these conflicts are embedded in the narrative. The reader is faced with choices of good vs. evil, past vs. present, and accepting life vs. ignoring death. The reader is faced with choices involving the main character, Emily Grierson, which are identifying with her faults, acknowledging her defiance of the present, and coming to terms with the morbidity surrounding Emily.
The ethical question lies heavily with Emily's choices. Emily is a part of the old, genteel South, which is a time where certain privileges are granted to people with good families. For instance, the town mayor, Colonel Satoris, "remitted her taxes, the dispensation dating from the death of her father on into perpetuity" (Faulker 29). She belongs to a fading class of people and is referred to as a "fallen monument" (Faulkner 28). It is a time of conservative appearance and strict upbringing. The town's people are upset to find that Emily would Emily would not only date a "Yankee", and it was also disgraceful that he would not marry her.
William Faulkner's "A Rose for Emily- describes the journey through the life of a civil war hero's daughter. ... Like a rose, Emily's life is pruned and nurtured by her father, Homer, and town. ... However, he only creates thorns in Emily's life. ... This reluctance is the first indicator of Emily's insanity. ... This life changing experience slowly turns Emily from a beautiful rose to a wilted rose. ...
A Rose for Emily as a Metaphor for Life Life is fickle and most people will be a victim of circumstance and the times. ... The "Rose" for Emily, Faulkner talks about in the title of this fictitious story could be found in the tomb like bedroom she created, which wasn't found till Emily's death. "Upon the valance curtains of faded rose color, upon the rose-shaded light" (223). These rose colored items gave the room an artificial rose like color. ... Everything in this room was Emily's rose, locked away for keeping, so she would not be left alone....
William Faulkner: "A Rose for Emily" In "A Rose for Emily," William Faulkner's use of imagery sets a tone for the general theme of the story, death. ... In this story, we see Emily much like the rose, an object of beauty and desire that soon begins to wither and die. Faulkner, through great use of imagery, paints a vivid of a dying rose, Miss Emily. ... At this point in her life Emily is like the blossoming rose. ... Then Emily, like a revitalized rose, then springs forth again. ...
Robertson 1 Nicole Robertson Elaine Walden English 102 10 September 2001 A life of increasing Dementia in William Faulkner's "A Rose for Emily" A compelling story of a young woman's life by William Faulkner in a "A Rose for Emily". ... William Falkner uses setting, foreshadowing and characterization of Emily to trace Miss Emily's increasing dementia. ... "A Rose for Emily"(557) tells the tale of a young woman who lives and abides by her father's strict rational. ... Emily's inner character wil...
An Analysis of "A Rose for Emily" In William Faulkner's "A Rose for Emily", the role of the community plays a major part in the story. ... In "A Rose For Emily", Miss Emily is greatly respected by the community; everyone in town knows about Miss Emily. ... "A Rose for Emily" is a perfect name for this story. Homer Barron was Emily's rose. ... The community is the narrator of "A Rose for Emily". ...
"A Rose for Emily" has all the ingredients of an interesting story which makes it so special. While writing "A Rose for Emily," Faulkner decided to use flashbacks in time to foreshadow the surprising ending. ... The setting for "A Rose for Emily" was set in a small post civil war town that has not yet adjusted to the progress of the war. ... Emily's father was very secure and close to Emily. ... Homer was a laborer and Emily was a homebody. ...
Paper 1: "A Rose for Emily" "A Rose for Emily" takes place in the post Civil War era. Emily lived with her father before he diede in a large house. ... Emily feared being alone. ... After this Emily was rarely seen and hardly left her house. ... Faulkners use of characterization, narration, foreshadowing, and symbolism really makes "A Rose for Emily" an interesting and appealing short story. ...
Faulkner salutes Emily in his title by offering her a rose. ... Since roses most commonly stand for love, Faulkner gives Emily a rose in the title to show that he is the only one who has any love for Emily. ... This was Faulkner's method of giving Emily a rose. ... Therefore, the rose given to Emily by Faulkner becomes her only love. ... The rose in the title can be symbolic of the monument that the town made of Emily. ...
English 232 "A Rose for Emily" As any reader can see, " A Rose for Emily" is one of the most authentic short stories by Faulkner. ... Several other characters in "A Rose for Emily" are set in opposition to Emily. ... In "A Rose for Emily" Miss Emily actually symbolized a remembrance of values and sins of the townspeople's ancestors. ... In the title "A Rose for Emily" many have ask "What does the Rose stand for?" ... Finally, the effect of "A Rose for Emily" is one that is positive and enjoyable. ...
"A Rose for Emily" As any reader can see, " A Rose for Emily" is one of the most authentic short stories by Faulkner. ... In the title "A Rose for Emily" many have ask "What does the Rose stand for?" ... "A Rose for Emily." ... "A Rose for Emily." ... "A Rose for Emily." ...
