A Rose for Emily

A Rose for Emily is a brief story that contains many themes and symbols. However one of the most interesting things I found was the way in which the story was written. In the beginning, I was slightly confused but I soon realized Faulkner jumps back and forth between past and present, which can be challenging. However, once I figured it out I was not bothered by it. In general, the main themes of the story were death and holding on to tradition. This is clear in the description of her house and her unofficial agreement with Colonel Santoris. Faulkner writes that overtime new technologies had become more widespread while her house remained traditional architecture. In her unofficial tax agreement, upheld by her father and Colonel Satoris Faulkner demonstrates the new methods and mannerisms of the town as the aldermen disregarded previous arrangements.

This theme of preventing change to hold on to tradition fits in perfectly with the theme of death. After her father dies she refuses to admit that he is dead in an attempt to prevent change and cling to the past. She continues to do so as she refuses to give up his body until she was relentlessly urged to let him be removed. Her desire to hold on to tradition and prevent change is also seen when she resorts to killing Homer Barron so that he is not ever able to leave her. This reoccurrence of death distances her from Hommer however it is morally right in Emily's mind because she is able to be with him forever. Once more the hair found on the pillow exemplifies her need to feel as though nothing has changed and it indicated that she had slept with Hommer after she had killed him. Falkner foreshadows this death when he introduces the smell, and then reveals Hommer had been let into the house but it was the last time he was seen.


Discussion questions:
Why is it called a rose for Emily?
How does her relationship with her father affect her relationship with Hommer?
what role did the four men play in the story? why was the smell not further investigated?
was the pharmacists aware that the arsenic was not for rats? if so why did he not alert anyone?