A Rose for Emily by Faulkner's - Personal Statement Example

An Analysis of “A Rose for Emily” by Faulkner In a “A Rose For Emily” William Faulkner addresses the issue of death and the changes that come with it. It is a hidden message that is experienced through the life and times of Emily soon after the death of her father. She had lived all her life in the service of her controlling father so that upon his death, she did not know how to live. So she created a world within her mind wherein her tormentor continued to live in order to help her cope with an unexpected change in her life.

The novel in itself is also a study in racism during this particular point in American history. Derogatory terms such as “Negro” were used in the novel not only because Faulkner was trying to stay within the language of the times, but because he wanted to show how the White Man viewed the colored man. That is, the colored man did not have any identity or respect coming from the Whites and therefore they were not thought of as human. In the end, the overall concept of “A Rose for Emily” revolves around the study of man and his reaction to his fellow human being.

Faulkner clearly shows how different the people of that era viewed people considered to be pillars of the local society. The dead were seen either as highly respectable by some and simply gossip fodder by the others. Either way, the death of an esteemed person was met with the proper respect. “A Rose for Emily” was also a study in the history of the south and how society functioned during this time.