My
initial reaction to A Rose for Emily was
shock mixed with a little confusion. It took some going back and reading for me
to fully understand the whole short story.
Through
the use of compelling irony, Faulkner revealed his interpretation of the
desperation of women looking for love. Faulkner writes about Emily’s early life
with her father before he died. She lived a life where he ruled her and
everything she did, even when it came to courting a husband. So when he died,
and she lost the only man she ever loved, she was in ruins. After meeting Homer
Barron and feeling love for a man again, Emily was ready to get married and
start a family. But when she learned Homer was leaving her, she couldn’t bear
losing another chance at love and family. So instead of letting him go as
expected, she murdered him and kept his deceased body, which she slept next to
for some time, until the day of her death. In a sense, she wanted to control
the situation instead of just letting love walk out the door, as it happened
with her father.
This
story was a little confusing to me, I understand the whole concept of the
story, but the question that still liners in my mind is the relevance of the
tax situation told in the beginning of the story.
I agree with you Brittani. This piece was a little confusing to read. The tax situation with Colonel Sartoris and how he invented a tale about Emilys' father lending money to the town. In addition to how "only a woman could believe it."
ReplyDeleteI think the tax story was about the town's determination on preserving the towns past. Emily belongs to a rich family line, and her house has remained untouched by the development all around town. Her house is a time capsule, while the rest of the town pushes forward. Emily is the last in her family line, but is also poor and isololated from the rest of the town. In order to save the town's history, the colonel cannot accept tax money from Emily. He has to make up the story so that she does not think it is charity. I think it all boils down to a southern town trying to defend its culture from the ever expanding northern influence of the time (late 1800's). As for why only a women would believe it, I assume that it is just a sexist remark, nothing more.
ReplyDeleteYou wasn't the only person confused in the beginning. I also had to really re-read the story because I miss some things.I agree with you Brittani. Her love was lethal in some way. Its like she rather have you dead or a live. She could not bare another man leaving her alone. Good Job
ReplyDeleteI was right there with you guys. I had to re-read the beginning a couple times just to make sure I was reading it correctly. It was a bit hard to grasp some of the things. As far as the relevance of the tax situation at the beginning, I’m not sure. I think because death is prevalent and Colonel Sartoris remitted Emily’s taxes because of the death of her father.
ReplyDeleteHi Brittani,
ReplyDeleteThere were some desperation and irony in Faulkner’s story as I do believe that Emily was yearning for love and affection as there was no mention of a mother. Her father was so controlling that when he passed it was hard for her to cope in the real world i.e taxes, upkeep of the house, and moving on with life in general. Since she was so sheltered the way she learned to get her way was the same as her dad, which is to control with iron fist so no one could say no to her and the person that did, she killed. Yes, she killed for love. Thanks.
Yes, I must say I’m highly confused when it comes to Emily’s taxes being remitted. I understand that her family was wealthy, but how did they become so rich? Why does Colonel Sartoris care so much?
ReplyDeleteI feel that the tax story served to indicate why a woman who had been reclusive for a decade and was mostly written off by the townspeople would be of recent interest and speculation leading up to her death. It also helps to explain why people were able to get a peek into her home, considering her private nature. Plus, it establishes her own forthright and pious attitude which drove people to dispose her like they did her father.
ReplyDelete