establishe the story in the old south also known as the reconstruction era, a certain time in history were a group of flush white men reigned
William Faulkner’s infamous style of writing is evidently shown through the short story, “A Rose for Emily”. Faulkner tends to go back and forth in time through story, a tool that unquestionably intrigues the public to keep reading further, providing the reader with specific evidence on the most dramatic instants. “the story opens with her funeral and proceeds from segment to segment, cording to what seem to be local principles of transition (Perry, 312)
The author manages the chronological order of the story in a curious technique. The writer establishes the story in the old south also known as the reconstruction era, a certain time in history were a group of flush white men reigned, since various of the white leaders owned a vast majority of properties and slavery. The author centralizes the story around the daughter from a powerful marriage, Emily Grierner.
Emily or also known as Miss Emily was born into a tremendously privileged family named the Grierner family. The dominant family gained power due to Emily’s father arrangement with the town which excluded the Grierner’s from paying taxes eternally including Emily, an arrangement that definitely marked the life of Emily. Once the public continues Faulkner’s intriguing story from this point on, the reader’s interpretation concerning Emily Grierner will be divided in basically two different points of view. On one side of the equation, Miss Emily might be identified as a direct victim of the negative pressure stipulated by the Grierner family. Many readers might agree with this specific point of view towards Emily, since Faulkner focus mainly in tragedy. Basically, Emily had no freedom of speech since Mr. Grierner scared all the suitors using a violent horsewhip, being controlled by someone with excess of power can be one of the many reasons of why Emily later committed murder.
The death of Mr. Grierner completed a big negative impact in Emily’s life. A lonely Miss Emily was again surrounded by tragedy, in this instance Emily was extremely hurt. At the lowest peak of mountain and alone is hard to fight for almost anybody. Life comes with various types of tests with no cautions, in this case Emily was brave enough to not give up even at the lowest point which is exceptionally admirable considering all the tragedy. It is worth to mention Emily’s boundless desire to improve in life leaving apart the sadness of losing Mr. Grieiner, which many other individuals wouldn’t be able to stand back again. In this interpretation Emily clearly plays the role of the sufferer, since at an old age Emily lost again a loved one by the hands of the Grierner family, Homer Barron a man who Emily had a relationship before he was frightened by the influential Grierner family.
Society has always been awfully selective no matter what time in history, in this occasion affecting negatively against Miss Emily. Homer Barron a true candidate for Miss Emily was sadly not part of the same elite class as Emily, and that made the Grierner family acted. Injustices were occurring frequently in Emily’s life provoked by the Grierner family itself. This sickened Miss Emily, who killed Mr. Barron. This interpretation of Miss Emily might justify the reason of why Emily murdered and reacted violently. Emily’s morals were completely shattered and alone, leaving Miss Emily with the wrong mental thoughts and really vulnerable of making the worst life decisions. Emily felt hopeless in a world where not even the Grierner family was supportive.
On a totally contrary interpretation, Emily Grierner can be perfectly identified as the anti-hero of the short story, since she is targeted as the killer of Homer. The readers might debate that Miss Emily had all the wealth and advantages to be an educated person and live a prosperous life. Emily being part of the Grierner Family could had done enormous contributions to the community such as an attempt to abolish slavery, which was badly affecting the public in the Old South.
