Nelson1

Dominique Nelson
Ms. Jacobs
English 132
September 21, 2017
A Rose For Emily
In the story "A Rose For Emily" the two most prominent aspects were theme and

symbolism they play a significant part. A theme is the central topic or idea of a story and

Symbolism is the action of a character, word, action, or event that has a deeper meaning in the

context of the whole story. The relationship between theme and symbolism is that a symbol is

often times given to allow deeper thinking into what the author is really talking about and that

would be the theme. It connects to A Rose for Emily by the author William Faulkner allowing

Emily and a few other objects to be the symbols for the underlying theme which is that she had

to die in order for the regime to move forward and progress.

Throughout the story, Faulkner used many different symbols to convey the theme. The

three that stuck out the most where Emily, the dust, and Emilys house. Emily was the most

important symbol of the story because she was the leading cause of the theme. Miss. Emily could

be described as a small fat woman that lived in a progressing town filled with people who saw

her as a very cold and distant person that lived in the past. Emily didnt really seem to fit in the

structure of the town anymore. Emily was stuck in her old ways that her father had instilled in

her from when he was still alive. Miss. Emily was the only person still with an African American

working for her. Also, she felt as though she was higher than everyone else because thats how it

was back when her father was in charge where she didnt have to pay taxes, but now she does

since the new generation of the Board of Alderman came into office. Miss. Emily was asked
 Nelson2

multiple times to pay her taxes just like everyone else in the town, but he sternly refused, saying

she doesnt have to pay taxes because that was a law Colonel Sartoris made after the death of her

father almost a decade earlier.

Dust is another symbol used throughout the story. Everything in Emilys house was very

dust everything was covered in a thick layer. The dust helps to convey the theme because the

dust is a symbol of aging and being old, and that is linked back to one of the descriptions of

Emily that was explicitly stated in the text. In the story when the aldermen arrived to try to

collect Emilys annual taxes it was said that the house had a smell of dust and disuse. As the

men sat themselves a dust seemed to stir all around them. Faulkners constant talk of dust

implies it is important to the story. The thick layers of dust seem to be a symbol of how

disconnected Emily really is from the reality outside her home and how for how she is stuck in

her ways.

Lastly, Emilys house is an important symbol in the story because it is not only

significant to the reader but significant to the town. Her house was like a monument to them. She

and her house were the only part remaining of the old regime. When the house was built it

looked like a house for the most pristine and privileged people of the time and that was the case

once upon a time. The house had fit Emily and her status as the wealthy and powerful when her

father was alive years prior. After years of neglect, the house had become worn and lost its stand

of status. In some ways, the house could be used to depict Miss. Emil and her character. The

house was described as stubborn and coquettish decay compared to the town residents. It was

once a testament to the traditions of the south but now is just seen as out of place and in the way

because of how developed the surrounding area is. Miss. Emilys house that was once sought

after is now dilapidated and considered an eyesore by the townspeople. The house is a
 Nelson3

representation of alienation and death being that she secludes herself in there for most of her

adult life, although thats the same place her father, her lover Homer Barron and lastly she died.

William Faulkner made Emily, the dust, and Emilys house the most notable symbols in

order to tie them together and create his unexpressed theme. His theme was that Emily had to die

so that the town of Jefferson could move on and progress as a whole. The dust and Emilys

house where the symbol for Emily because the dust is in an abundance only around Emily and

her home every time the story referred to Emilys house they always talked about how dusty it

was, there was an overwhelming amount. Dust is associated with old things which Miss. Emily

was. Emilys house is another symbol for Emily because it was different, looking old and run

down. The house was a constant reminder of the past it was alienated and somewhat lonely. That

was also ways Miss. Emily was described throughout the story by the townspeople. With both of

those symbols being symbols for Emily and Emily being the symbol for the theme of the entire

story I feel Faulkner used them to give multiple connections to his theme.