Emily is the protagonist of the literary because the whole story revolves around her. The towns people are considered the antagonist which means that they were opposed to or struggled against Emily. Like the time when she was around town with Homer Barron and then some of the ladies of the town thought that is was a disgrace to the town and a bad example to the young people. The ladies of the town gossiped and speculated upon Ms. Grierson’s actions. Emily also suffered from a mental illness that would confuse her about date and time.
Her father had kept her away from any experience with love that she might ever have known. He was the only person that Emily loved and cared for, until she met Homer Barron. The loneliness in Miss Emily’s life was the cause of her failure to let go of the ones that she loved. For instance, her father was the only person that she had, so when he died, she refused his death so that she could hold onto him to have him in her life still. So the reason that Emily killed her lover, Homer, was to keep him in her
Miss Emily’s solitude is the result of lack of socialization and the death of her father. In addition, her isolation causes her to improperly socialize with others; and the lack of a dominant figure pressures her to feel insecure and lonely. After the death of Miss Emily’s father, a slight sense of vitality still remains through the presence of the Negro man and Miss Emily’s attempt of fusing herself into the outside world. The narrator states, “After her father’s death, she went out very little; after her sweetheart went away, people hardly saw her at all… the only sign of life about the place was the Negro man- a young man then- going in and out with a market basket” (Faulkner 715). Under the perspective of
It is evident that as time passes, the people of Jefferson as well as her dying father become forceful (needs to be a different word) towards her. Faulkner makes it obvious to the reader in the story’s opening scene that her and her father have always been old fashioned. Her father always scared away potential suitors for his daughter, because they didn’t meet his expectations. While the story is never given an exact date, the narrator makes it clear to the reader that the characteristics and customs were long outdated, even for the deep south. Emily is a character, along with her family and possessions are all antiques from a time since gone, the very embodiment of the old south.
In many stories, some characters isolate themselves from society due to certain events which have occurred in their lives. In the short story, “A Rose for Emily” by William Faulkner, Emily Grierson is the victim to such proceedings. In this case, Emily’s isolation and therefore loneliness is caused by the changing south, her father’s controlling demeanor, and by her own arrogance and uptight attitude. Emily grew up during a very awkward time in a changing community in the south. Her house growing up was once lively and grand, and stood elegantly beside others on what had been the most select street in town.
The house in which she lives in was once upon the select street of the town, but eventually it becomes constantly neglected and unappreciated. The “stubborn and coquettish decay above the cotton wagons and the gasoline pump” (542) is a visible reminder of Miss Emily’s unrelenting attitude to submit herself to change, such as denying father’s death and not paying taxes. The house also symbolizes her physical and emotional disintegration, as well as becoming alienated from the town for a decade. When the Board of Aldermen confronts Miss Emily about her taxes, it is noticed that there is a thin gold chain buried in the folds of her clothing. There is a silence among the room and that is when “they could hear the invisible watch ticking at the end of the gold chain” (544).
Meursault’s detached personality is first shown when he showed no emotion at his mother’s funeral and how he did not know his mother’s age: “I [Meursault] hadn’t wanted to see mother, hadn’t cried once and I’d left straight after the funeral without paying my respects at her grave.” (86). Meursault does not meet society’s expectation because he was different from the rest of society. He is expected to cry and show his respects but he does the exact opposite. A normal man would be devastated by the loss of his mother and suffer from sadness and despair; however, Meursault does not even care much about the date she passed away. “Mother died today or yesterday maybe, I don’t know.” (3) Another point is that shortly after the funeral, Meursault is reacquainted with a typist who used to work at the office with him.
Now, I am twenty one years old; I am actually living with my husband and I am still receiving support from my family both emotionally and financially. If there is a person that I can call when I am happy or sad is my mother, she always is ready to listen to me to anything I want to tell her. My mother, father and sister are for me the only persons from whom I can receive honest advices without giving anything in return. Second, the unconditional love of a family is something that has a strong meaning for me. There a different kind of love, but for me the stronger one is the family love.
Throughout each section of the story, we learn of the heart throbbing life and times of Emily, as well as her relationship with the town, her father, and her lover. At the end of the story it is shocking how we find out about the disturbing truth that Emily Grierson was hiding. Overall, A Rose For Emily illustrates the theme of decay in the town, the house, and in Miss Emily herself. Symbolism in A Rose for Emily is presented through the important themes of tradition versus change, the power of death, and the symbol of watching. The theme of tradition versus change becomes very apparent throughout the story A Rose for Emily.
He recently committed suicide because he could not handle being bullied by some of the other students, and Lewis fells that he is to blame for not helping the kid in need. Lewis is extremely affected in his adult life by being bullied as a kid. It has made him an insecure man, that can’t stand up for him self, and he is not able to face his problems in life. He fells weak and has a low self a steam. “Survival of the fittest”, his mom always told him.