Combine Analysis of a Rose for Emily - Essay Example

Similarly Faulkner also incorporates this theme in order to depict the bitter reality of human beings who are on their way to destruction as the writer believes that human existence is now devoid of emotions and feeling where man is living a mechanical existence and waiting for the ultimate escape i.e. death as it is also observed that the story commences with the funeral of Emily and ends with the death of Homer. Moreover this can also be deduced from the description of Emily in the story as it describes Emily as a living dead creature i.e. although she is alive yet she is hollow or empty on the inside hence she is almost dead.

As it is also stated in the text, “She looked bloated, like a body long submerged in motionless water, and of that pallid hue. Her eyes, lost in the fatty ridges of her face, looked like two small pieces of coal pressed into a lump of dough” (Faulkner 14). Theme of death also stresses on the reality of life that this world is a temporary place and ultimately everything is going to collapse and meet its end. The theme of isolation in this prose is indirectly linked with theme of death and decay as Harold Bloom also says, “Emily is isolated from the community.

Her isolation is so thorough that she does not or can not have a suitor from Jefferson… her isolation eventually grows to resemble a living dead in which her closest companion is a corpse” (90). This theme also depicts the irony of human existence i.e. although an individual is surrounded by people yet he is alone. As it is inferred from Emily’s situation who has lived all her life in Jefferson yet the people of that community are strangers for her. Even her cousins are not a source of comfort and support.

Hence it shows that every individual in this world is living a selfish and isolated existence. Love is defined as an intense emotion that leads an individual to behave irrationally as it blinds him to all logic and reasoning. A similar case is observed in A Rose for Emily because her actions of keeping the dead body of Homer can be interpreted as an act of desperation on Emily’s part and also reveals her insecurities about being left alone. Hence she finds solace in keeping Homer’s dead body and sleeping with his corpse.

Bloom also believes that, “while it may be an unconventional one “A Rose for Emily” is a love story. The revelation that Emily has slept beside Homer Barron’s corpse for 40 years let us know that his killing was motivated more by love than some other reason such as pride or revenge” (90). 2. Symbolism Faulkner’s use of symbolism acts as a tool of foreshadowing and helps in the development of the plot. Initially the ‘Rose’ in the title suggests love as it is a cliche that a rose is a symbol of love and affection.

However it is later revealed to the readers that the rose is either the symbolic representation of Emily’s irrational love and affection for Homer that led her to kill him and keep him with her or Emily’s Father’s love for her daughter that made him believe that no one was good enough for his daughter and hence he decided his daughter was better off alone rather than married. The description of