A Rose for Emily From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Plot summary “A Rose for Emily” is a short story divided into five sections. The first section opens with a description of the Grierson house in Jefferson. The narrator mentions that over the past 25 years, Miss Emily Grierson’s home has fallen into despair and become “an eyesore among eyesores.” The first sentence of the story sets the tone of how the citizens of Jefferson felt about Emily: “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.” It is known around town that Emily Grierson has not had guests in her home for the past 8-10 years, except her Negro male servant who runs errands for her to and from the market. After Emily's father’s death, Colonel Sartoris had arranged that Miss Emily would never have to pay taxes, however, when a new council took over, they began to tax her once again. She refused to pay the taxes and appear before the sheriff, so the city authorities took it upon themselves to physically invite themselves into her house. When confronted on her tax evasion, Emily reminded them that she doesn't have to pay taxes in Jefferson and to speak to Colonel Sartoris, although he had died ten years ago. In section two, the narrator explains that the Griersons has always been a very proud Southern family. Mr. Grierson, Emily’s father, being the proud man he was, never believed any man was suitable for his daughter and didn't allow her to date. This had a long-lasting negative effect on Emily, especially since after Mr. Grierson passed away because she was always dependent on him. After Mr. Grierson's passing, Emily did not allow the authorities to remove his body for three days, claiming he was still alive. Two years after her father’s death and her lover had left her, a strange smell started coming from the Grierson house. In section three, Emily’s beau, Homer Barron, a foreman from the north is introduced. Homer comes to Jefferson with a crew of men to build sidewalks outside the Grierson home. After Emily and Homer were seen driving through town several times, Emily visits a druggist. There, she asked to purchase poison specifically requesting arsenic. The druggist asks what the arsenic is for since it was required of him to ask by law. Emily does not respond and stares him down with cold eyes until the druggist looks away and packs her the arsenic. When Emily opens the package, underneath the skull and bones sign is written, "For Rats." Citizens of Jefferson believe that Miss Emily is going to commit suicide since Homer has not yet proposed in the beginning of section four. The townspeople contact and invite Emily's two cousins to comfort her. Shortly after their arrival, Homer leaves and then returns after the cousin leave Jefferson. After staying in Jefferson for one night, Homer is never seen again and is believed that Mr. Grierson’s spirit was “too virulent and too furious to die” is what drove Homer away. After Homer’s disappearance, Emily begins to age, gain weight, and is rarely seen outside of her home. Soon, Miss Emily passes away. The fifth and final section begins with Jefferson women entering the Grierson home. After they arrive, Emily's Negro servant leaves through the back door without saying a word. After Emily's funeral, the townspeople immediately go through her house. They come across a room on the second floor which no one had seen in 40 years and breaks the door down. They discover a dusty room strangely decorated as a bridal room. A silver toilet seat which Miss Emily had purchased for Homer years before his disappearance was in the room as well as a man’s tie, suit, and shoes all neatly folded, but covered in dust. In the bed lay the remains of Homer dressed in a nightshirt. Next to him, is an impression of a head on a pillow where the townspeople find a single “ long strand of iron-gray hair.” It is apparent to readers that not only had Emily killed Homer with the arsenic, but also had slept next to Homer's decaying body (necrophilia). [edit] Analysis [edit] Narration The narration of this story is told from what appears to be the point of view of a single person. However, the use of "we" in the narration suggests that this person is possibly speaking on behalf of the entire town, which is in line with the cultural character of the American South. [edit] Chronology Faulkner's chronology is unlike that of other writers of his time. He does not tell his story in linear fashion, but rather jumbles the sequential order. This technique builds suspense for the reader as the plot unfolds bit by bit. The reader must double as detective as each piece of the puzzle is revealed throughout the story. This writing style was not common during Faulkner's time. [edit] Death and Necrophilia The two elements in this story that make it Gothic Fiction are death and necrophilia. Although death is almost a given in any gothic work, necrophilia, the sexual attraction to corpses, is the outstanding grotesque element in this short story. [edit] Gothic Traits This short story exhibits many factors of the Southern Gothic style. For example, the helpless damsel in distress (Emily) meets her white knight (Homer) and instead of being rescued, actually condemns her own fate. Homer exhibits some signs of racial bigotry, a common trait of the Southern Gothic. 昨天去央圖看書的時候 因為忘記帶Justin佛心印的講義 所以只好看維基百科的 原po晚上吃的很飽 看了這篇邊看邊想吐 什麼戀屍癖的很噁心 所以奉勸各位施主吃飽飯不要看XDDDDDDD 不過看到後面 想想其實也還滿感人的.. -- 高山仰止，景行行止。雖不能至，心嚮往之。 ---《史記˙孔子世家》 ---原文引自《詩經˙小雅˙車牽》 --

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