The Rose for Emily story by William Faulkner shows people preparing to welcome the future by letting go of their past. In the short story by William Faulkner, Emily illustratively acts as proof of surviving in the shadow of past experiences. Emily firmly held so firmly to her past and remained reluctant to change. Despite society changing drastically, Emily’s house remained an allegory of the seventieth century. The use of symbolism gives more diversity in the short story “A Rose for Emily,”.
In the above context, Miss Emily Grierson is monumental; despite the house growing old in an old street, Emily aged with it, trying to make ends meet in an unusual way similar to those survived by the old house wearily for many years. Further, Emily’s decline to pay taxes pegging the noncompliance to the fact that her powerful family remained excluded from paying taxes while living in the town of Jefferson, forming evidence that Emily held too firmly on the past.
Holding her father’s body and that of Homer Barron inside her house and declining to bury them signified that Miss signified that Emily never appreciated the shifts taking place in her life. The situation mentioned above portrays a stubborn and depressed Emily who lived in isolation, triggered by denial and rejection to accept the deaths of her father and Homer. The attitude of people from town towards Emily symbolizes the dehumanization of Emily since she never appreciates the remarks she receives from townspeople, forcing her to separate herself further from them.
Homer represented affection by being among the men Emily would date since her father kept her from dating. Emily upheld unforgiving love and cared for Barron, which compelled her to keep Barron’s death a secret until her death. Emily and Barron represented the fall of the Old South; further, her old house represents a classy and unique monument that warrants respect. However, the representation mentioned above remains obsolete and no longer allegoric. The layer of dust discovered after Emily’s death represents a cover-up of all hidden secrets and events occurring in Emily’s life.
In conclusion, A Rose for Emily by Williams Faulkner uses diversified symbolism that is helpful to society in several ways. Isolation from society could imply a lack of meaningful support and negligence by society. Again, holding too firmly to the past proves resistance to change and could subject one to depression or missed opportunities in the future.