Symbolism in A Rose for Emily by William Faulkner Essay

Symbolism in A Rose for Emily by William Faulkner William Faulkner used a great deal of symbolism in this story. His use of symbolism captivated the reader until the shocking end of the story. Some of the symbolism was blatant while some was vague and disguised. While Faulkner’s use of the color white in this story wasn’t obvious at first it soon becomes clear that the color white represents innocence and youth. The Grierson house was white and when Miss Emily was a young girl she wore white dresses as opposed to the black attire she wore in her latter years. This represents the innocence of Miss Emily before she becomes a victim of herself and her refusal to change. The yellow color of the wheels of the buggy Miss Emily and†¦show more content†¦The whip he held was a sign of strictness, power, and protectiveness he had towards Emily. When Miss Emily’s father dies, her refusal to admit that he died shows her unwillingness to accept change. The watch Miss Emily wore tucked out of sight in her bel t is also symbolic of this. Another symbol of her unwillingness to change was her refusal to allow the new guard to put the numbers of her house for free mail delivery and her use of old paper and old ink in her answer to the demand for tax payment. Her refusal to pay taxes and her dilapidated house also reflected her unwillingness to change. The Grierson house represents the Old South and is symbolic of an age gone by. The poor upkeep of the house relates to Miss Emily and her poor upkeep. The fact that cotton wagons and gasoline pumps flanked the house represents the conflict between the Old South (Miss Emily) and the New South (the changing town). Faulkner also used the stench that permeated the air around Miss Emily’s house as symbolism. It symbolized the sour faultiness in southern thinking or logic; that the town would rather cover up the smell (townsmen with the lime) than uncover the cause. The bedroom where Homer was found dead symbolized a few things. First , it symbolized Emily. It was upstairs representing the high and mighty Griersons and it was secluded from everyone like Miss Emily was for the majority of her life.Show MoreRelatedSymbolism In A Rose For Emily By William Faulkner879 Words   |  4 PagesTill Death Do Us Part In â€Å"A Rose for Emily† William Faulkner writes a gothic toned short story about spending life holding onto the past and lost love, and the toll life can take on ones self. The main character Emily Grierson is a woman who lives in the house of her deceased father in the south during the late 1800’s/ early 1900’s, and spends her life secluded while trying to hold onto love and refuses change. 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