I.Themes

Thematically, this short story is not as simple as it seems: The conflicts in the story can be interpreted on different levels. On a superficial level, it is a murder story with elements of Gothic literature—an eccentric woman living in isolation, an old decaying mysterious house that other people had not been in for decades, and, of course, a dead body in the house, finally discovered after so many years. Similarly, also superficially, the story can be read as a conflict between the South and the North, with Emily representing the declining South and Homer Barron representing the North. Yet to read the story in either of these ways is to miss the most important things the author is trying to convey. On a deeper level, the story explores the inner world of a human being, the inner struggle in the human heart. Short as it is, the story contains many of the characteristics to be found in Faulkner’s longer fiction. Here as elsewhere Faulkner celebrates in detail the workings of the complex social world of a small Southern town. He views it with fondness but in no way idealizes its quirks or its hypocrisies.

The theme of the story is universal, transcending the boundaries of time and space. Like many other works of great literature, it is concerned with love, death, honor, pride, change, and loss.

II. Writing Style

Faulkner’s work is noted for its complexity partly because he deliberately places a considerable burden upon the reader. Instead of telling a simple straightforward story, he often exploits vague references, ambiguities, symbolism, experimental points of view, jumbled time sequences, avoidance of clear transitions, withholding of vital information to compel the reader to join in the writer’s search for truth. Some of these techniques are use in A Rose for Emily.

In it, we can see how the author tells a good story skillfully; how he creates the atmosphere he needs for telling his story; how he keeps the suspense and unfolds the conflict bit by bit; and how he digs deep into the social world of his characters. Utilizing his skills as a writer, Faulkner invites his readers to participate in the process of seeking the truths of the inner lives of the townspeople as they cope with Miss Emily, and of Miss Emily herself. Like a puzzle, once we begin to understand, the story becomes more and more fascinating.

III. Implicit Chronology

The narration of A Rose for Emily does not follow a normal chronological order. Instead, it shifts in time frequently and gives out bits of information about the main character, Miss Emily, in such a way that the reader has to piece them together by himself. The following implicit chronology has been worked out on the basis of the information from the text.

ca. 1855: Miss Emily is born to the richest family of slave-owner in town

1861-1865: the American Civil War, Confederate troops from here commanded by Col. Sartoris

1870s: Mr. Grierson, Miss Emily’s father, has the family house built in Gothic revival style.

ca. 1886: Mr. Grierson dies; Miss Emily’s inheritance is only the house; she is over 30

ca. 1887: Homer Barron, Northern construction foreman, arrives; he and Miss Emily start courting.

ca. 1888: Homer Barron is seen no more; the smell in the house is notice.

1894: Young Colonel Sartoris, as mayor of the town, exempts Miss Emily from taxes for life.

ca. 1919: Young Colonel dies.

ca. 1927-1928: The tax delegation visits Miss Emily.

ca. 1929-1930: Miss Emily dies at the age of 74.

We must remember that Faulkner is not always accurate about the exact time of a certain event. The purpose of working out this chronology is to give you a rough idea about the time frame in which the story of Miss Emily takes place.