From the lack of critical commentary on Homer Barron's sexuality, we might conclude that scholars are ignoring a question often raised and vigorously answered by undergraduates, who can be homophobic or just fascinated with even mild sexual references in literature: Homer Barron, they insist, is homosexual. But now the scholars have spoken, apparently legitimizing the suspicion that "Miss Emily's beau is gay" (Blythe 49). .
To support this contention, Blythe and many students cite as a key piece of evidence the narrator's explanation of why Homer did not marry Emily: .
Then we said, "She will persuade him yet," because Homer himself had remarked--he liked men, and it was known that he drank with the younger men in the Elks' Club--that he was not a marrying man. (126) .
The comment is not, of course, Faulkner's, nor is it entirely a paraphrase of Homer's original comment, as Blythe suggests it is. The statement is the narrator's, and that part of the sentence most indicting--the part between the dashes--is spoken suggestively, with a sly wink and a nudge of the elbow, in an attempt to disparage Homer's character. To believe that the narrator here reveals something true about Homer is to become exactly like the narrator and his society of gossipy, nosy neighbors.(n1) .
That he and his community are consummate gossips is made clear by his confessions of having "learned" information and by his ability to relay supposedly accurate details about events he did not witness. He describes in exquisite detail, for example, the visit of the deputation sent to collect Miss Emily's taxes: .
[W]hen they sat down, a faint dust rose sluggishly about their thighs, spinning with slow motes in the single sun-ray. Then they could hear the invisible watch ticking at the end of the gold chain. (120-121) .
The reader must wonder how the narrator knows all this, unless he is one of the aldermen, talking about himself in the third person to hide his complicity.
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." ...
