A Rose for Emily: a Victim of the Society - Book Report/Review Example

These are very compelling circumstances and these circumstances can break even the strongest of all human beings. “Faulkner’s most famous, most popular, and most anthologized short story, “A Rose for Emily” evokes the terms Southern gothic and grotesque, two types of literature in which the general tone is one of gloom, terror, and understated violence.” (A Rose for Emily). Faulkner completely succeeds in grabbing the immediate attention of the readers by choosing to begin the story with a funeral, the funeral raises several questions and provokes the readers to think and ask questions, which was what the intention of Faulkner really was.

“When Miss Emily Grierson died, our whole town went to the funeral: the men through a sort of respectful affection for a fallen monument, the women mostly out of curiosity to see the inside of her house, which no one save an old manservant–a combined gardener and cook–had seen in at least ten years.” (A Rose for Emily). Different human beings perceive different situations differently; the character of Emily also can be interpreted in different ways by different readers.

Some would say that she was perhaps too weak and should have responded strongly to adversity whereas some others would say that she was a very strong woman who did not meet the right people in her life and as a result of which went on a self-destructive spree which was her cutting herself off from the society completely. The character of Emily’s father is also of prime importance in the story; he tries his best to keep her unwed which no sensible father in this would do. He was really selfish and his selfishness affected the life of Emily severely.

Emily would have led a different life had he taken an initiative to find a suitable groom for his daughter but he wanted her to take good care of him. “This tale covers several decades in the life of the protagonist, Emily Grierson.” (A Rose for Emily). Conclusion Emily was a victim of society; her neighbors knew everything about her life. They knew that Homer had cheated her, he made promises to marry her but he failed to deliver the goods when it really mattered. This was a very significant event in the life of Emily and this was also the final nail in her coffin.

The story ends as intriguingly as it had started, readers get to know that she murdered Homer and kept his corpse in her bedroom which was locked for years. Out of desperation human beings often do things that are unimaginable and Emily killing homer in the story is also an unimaginable event. Readers also get to know that she was helped by her servant and Homer was poisoned. The actions of Emily can be defended, Homer was her last hope and she held on to him.