A Rose For Emily

In “A Rose for Emily” by William Faulkner, the author uses the element of time and history to tell the story of Emily Grierson. Emily, the main character, attempts to resist the progression of time and modernization in the American south during the post-civil war era. Emily’s struggle of transition from old south to new south values is portrayed in a unique story-telling style. Faulkner uses many symbolic meanings associated with Emily, in relation …

…develop their own perceptions of Emily. He used symbols associated with time, history and progression to describe Emily’s ancient-like characteristics, as well as fundamental incidents. The details of the story are revealed slowly and out of chronological order to build a sense of suspicion before the killing of Homer Baron is climaxed. After we are introduced to these symbolic meanings of Emily’s life, then we can begin to properly analyze Emily’s motives