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Emily In William Faulkner's A Rose For Emily

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American writer William Faulkner was born in New Albany, Mississippi, in 1897. Much of his early work was poetry, but he became famous for his novels set in the American South. His work, A Rose for Emily, depicts an older lady who fights with the town about taxes and then ends up in a relationship with Homer Barron. In William Faulkners, A Rose for Emily, everyone overlooks Emily as a suspect in the murder of Homer Barron originally because they didn’t realize he was dead, then because of their seemingly happy relationship, and finally because of her position in society. Homer Barron was dead for quite some time before the townspeople realized it, but why? They didn’t realize he was dead because of his way of life. Homer was a construction …show more content…

First off, she came from a well-known, upper class family. That is why the townspeople didn’t believe that Emily would date Homer, they thought she was to good for him. They state, “Of course a Grierson would not think seriously of a Northerner, a day laborer” (454). Emily was held to an extremely high position in their town. When she died, “our whole town went to her funeral, the men through a sort of respectful affection for a fallen monument” (451). She was from a different time than the newer generation in the town and everyone had the upmost respect for her. She was seen as a good old southern woman, and they never even considered it possible that she could do such a thing. The town also pitied her, making it almost impossible for them to see her as a murderer. All throughout the story they use the phrase “poor Emily.” They use it when talking about her father dying, during her relationship with Homer, and after they believe he has left her. This line that is repeated all throughout the essay is important because it reveals that they have pity for her. Since they show her pity it blinds them to the fact that she has the capability of murdering someone, especially not her lover. Many of Faulkners writings depict the decay of the old south, which is prevalent all throughout A Rose for Emily. His stories also depict how important status is in older

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