The atmosphere, theme and symbol created by William Faulkner in 'A Rose for Emily'

14 th posting

1.15 p.m. 2nd September 2008

William Faulkner has created the setting for this story in such a way that I actually feel that I am there seeing it for myself. I can imagine how the place looks like and the people plus their outfits, including Miss. Emily too. It could be due to my watching a lot of western movies that depicts all kinds of era, from 18th century up till now.

The setting of time in 'A Rose for Emily' is set somewhere in the year 1894 when there was black slavery in English towns. Slavery is very evident as Emily herself has a black servant who is very loyal to her. The setting of place is obviously got to be Miss. Emily's house which is all grey, dusty and old. This is evident and I quote "they were admitted by an old Negro into a dim hall from which a stairway mounted into still more shadow. It smelled of dust and misuse- a close dank smell. When they sat down, a faint dust rose sluggishly about their thighs, spinning with slow motes in the single sun-ray".

This short story's theme is not clearly implied by the narrator but could be considered as the pride of the Southerners in the past; the grandeur of their past meaning and the status of their people of that time, just as the Griersons.

As far as symbols are concerned, the rose gathered sympathy for the character, an Ebony cane with a tarnished gold head. The tarnished gold head can even symbolize the past grandeur which is just a note on paper of an archaic shape in a thin flowing calligraphy in faded ink. The invisible watch ticking at the end of the gold chain shows that the eerie silence that prevailed in Emily's house. The strand of hair which was found on her pillow which had indentation is a strong symbol to this story. It shows how Miss. Emily held on to the past.