The Central Theme and Symbolism of William Faulkners A...

William Faulkners central theme in the story A Rose For Emily is to let go of the past. The main character in the story, Emily Grierson, has a tendency to cling to the past and has a reluctance to be independent. Faulkner uses symbols throughout the story to cloak an almost allegorical correlation to the reconstruction period of the South. Even these symbols are open to interpretation; they are the heart and soul of the story. With the literal meaning of Faulkners story implies many different conclusions, it is primarily the psychological and symbolic aspects, which give the story meaning. Miss Emily cannot accept change to any degree. She is unable to ameliorate as the rest of the society does. The Old South is†¦show more content†¦The fact that Miss Emily is dressed in white proves her purity. Another point is how Emily is in the background, further proving her submission towards her father. The horsewhip symbolizes the power Miss Emilys father has over her. Her father is domineering and controlling and sadly, that is all she knows. It is no surprise when Miss Emilys father dies, she does not know what to do, being left alone, and a pauper (471). The corpse of her father remains in the house for three days while Miss Emily refuses to accept the fact that he is actually dead. The narrators description of her at the funeral is evidence of sympathy the inhabitants feel toward her; We did not say she was crazy then. We believed she had to do that. We remembered all the young men her father had driven away, and we knew that with nothing left, she would hav e to cling to that which had robbed her, as people will (471). The crayon portrait resting on an easel before the fireplace reveals the fact that Emily?s father still has a powerful control over her. Colonel Satoris, a member of the Old South, pardons Miss Emilys taxes shortly after her father dies. He produces a fib that the town owes Miss Emilys father money, so it wouldnt seem like he has made a charitable attempt to help Emilys financial woes. Colonel Satoris also sends his children to her house for china painting lessons. After the old generation is replaced by the new, the city begins to ask Miss Emily for herShow MoreRelatedGothic Literature: A Rose For Emily, The Tell Tale Heart, and Daddy976 Words   |  4 PagesIn William Faulkner’s, â€Å"A Rose for Emily, Edgar Allan Poe’s â€Å"The Tell Tale Heart,† and Sylvia Plath’s â€Å"Daddy†, are endowed with many features that contribute to their gothic form and success. Faulkner’s,† A Rose for Emily† is characterized by a powerful imagery, plot and setting which are interwoven to create a gothic feeling. The story unfolds in Jefferson, the living fragments of a land that is plagued with civil war. 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Copyright Introduction Eudora