A Rose for Emily

3 Pages 806 Words

Robertson 1

Nicole Robertson

Elaine Walden

English 102

10 September 2001

A life of increasing Dementia in William Faulkner’s “A Rose for Emily”

A compelling story of a young woman’s life by William Faulkner in a “A Rose for

Emily”. Miss Emily Grierson is referred to as the towns “fallen Monument” (557), she is

a “monument” (557) because she is an example of southern pride for her manners, style

and grace, but fallen because shows herself susceptible to death and decay. William

Falkner uses setting, foreshadowing and characterization of Emily to trace Miss Emily’s

increasing dementia.

To begin, the setting of Emily’s increasing dementia will mirror the ante-bellum

period and the gothic house. "A Rose for Emily"(557) tells the tale of a

young woman who lives and abides by her father's strict rational. The descriptions of the

decaying house coincide with Miss Emily's physical and emotional decay. Miss Emily's

decaying house, not only lacks genuine love and care, but so douse she in her adult life

and also during her childhood. As an example, the house is situated in what was once a

prominent neighborhood. Originally the house was white and on a “select street” (557),

through lack of attention, the house has deteriorated from a beautiful estate, to an ugly

desolate shack.

Faulkner uses foreshadowing to hint the outcome of the story to the reader. When the

only person in Emily’s life passes on, she stood in denial and refuses condolences and aid

Robertson 2

to bury her father for three days. As Emily and Homers courtship c...