People who read about William Faulkner (1897-1962) know that he did not lead an easy life. He had the bad habit to drink too much, but above all he was very lonely. In his short story "A Rose For Emily", the protagonist portrayal, Emily, becomes very important because it represents in some way Faulkner himself. Even though she was perceived as an idol from the town, she felt also very lonely.
Everyone in town considered Emily as monument, and if you describe something as an monument, you mean that it is a very good example of the results or effects of those qualities, such as her father. Her father was a great person who was respected by everyone, and the town thought that Emily would take his father's place. After Emily father's death, the situation changed, but people in town did not notice it. Emily became depressive and she leaded her to her own decay.
English: Emily Rose
English: Emily Rose
Homer Radioattivo: GhiradaBarcamp editionPeople also thought that she had a strong personality because she dominated the neighbors, who want her to clean up her court. Of course, the town members, who are perhaps represented by the unnamed narrator, were ready to get rid of this burden ; but in some indescribable way they were tied by the last remnants of mystique that surrounded her. They found it impossible to directly confront her - to evict her for not paying taxes - to approach her about the awful stench coming from her house. Moreover, when she went to the drugstore and requested the best poison that exist, arsenic, the druggist asked her why she wanted this poison because " the law requires you to tell what you are going to use it for "(417). She did not answer to his question, but the druggist let her go...