a rose for emily

Authors traditionally use symbolism as a way to represent the sometimes-intangible qualities of the characters, places and events in their work. In the short story, “A Rose For Emily”, William Faulkner uses symbolic elements to define and characterize Miss Emily Grierson. Faulkner uses symbolism to compare the Grierson house with Emily’s life. This is emphasized throughout by the symbolism of the decaying house, which parallels Miss Emily’s physical deterioration and demonstrates her mental …

…in his death the power that he had over her did not go away. She refused to let his body be removed from the house insisting that he was not dead. In reading, William Faulkner’s short story, “A Rose For Emily”, there are many symbols and each one has a special meaning to be determined by the reader. I know in reading it for myself I found that it could take many new forms.