A Rose for Emily
William Faulkner’s, “A Rose for Emily”, is a short story about Emily Grierson and the unbelievable secret that has been kept for years. The story consists of the town people of Jefferson’s views and details on the troubled woman and her unusual life. This perspective provides information out of chronological order determining many sections to be patched together throughout the story. Throughout the patching, the readers discover the bizarre motives and unfold results of Emily’s unbelievable behavior.
Sections one and two of “A rose for Emily” can be explained as the exposition of this short story. The first section begins with the town’s people narrating the story and informing the reader that Emily Grierson has died. They provide details of Emily’s life, telling that she was a woman from a family that was once considered one of the most respected in the town. They also told that after her father’s death Emily was left very poor and became a recipient of government relief. The town remitted Emily’s taxes for decades out of “pity and old-fashioned respect” for Emily, a lady once with such a prestige family. However, the reader can tell that the old-fashioned town and times are changing in this small Southern town. This is where the reader is presented with the first glimpse of Emily’s irregular way of thinking. Emily insists on not paying her taxes sending all tax collectors away. This is the first time that the readers see that Emily causes problems and is viewed as trouble to the town.
Section two of the story, flashes back thirty years prior to Emily’s death. It is still told by the town’s people, whom tell of the horrible smells that had been coming from her house. The people of the town felt that it was rude to confront Emily directly, since she hadn’t left her house in years, so rather then ask her about it they took matters into there own hands. A few members of the town went to her house at...