Symbolism and Theme in William Faulkners A Rose for Emily Research Paper

Symbolism and Theme in William Faulkners A locomote for Emily - Research Paper ExampleWhile containing southern gothic tendencies, the spirit level is characteristic of Faulkners style in terms of theme and symbolism. This essay considers these symbolic and thematic elements in terms of Faulkners A Rose for Emily. Perhaps the most pervasive theme in A Rose for Emily is the power and exploration of death. This is perhaps one of the most important elements in articulating the bosh as an element of southern gothic literature, and it gives the tale a sort of surreal touch. Faulkner begins the narrative in reverse, already stating that Emily Grierson, the main focus of the story is deceased. Faulkner writes, When Emily Grierson died, our strong town went to the funeral (Faulkner, web). While this is only a narrative element, its position as the first sentence of the story is notable as it sets the general thematic tone for the tale. While Emilys death represents perhaps the most sign ificant, it is only one among many deaths in the story. In addition to Emilys death the story also indicates that Emilys beginner died. Faulkner advances the thematic power of death in this instance by demonstrating that it extremely impacted Emilys existence. Faulkner writes, When her father died, it got about that the dwelling was all that was left to her and in a way, people were glad. At last they could pity Miss Emily. Being left alone, and a pauper, she had become humanized (Faulkner, web). Here, Faulkner is demonstrating that with Emilys fathers death she began to live a solitary and confined existence. Emilys reaction to her fathers death, namely the denial she faces, also demonstrates the thematic strike with the power of death. While actual death is a prominent theme, Faulkner also implements death imagery in advancing this theme for instance, referring to Emily Faulkner writes, Her skeleton was small and unornamented (Faulkner, web). Here its clear that a gothic and m acabre theme is being articulated. Another major thematic concern of the story is the nature of custom vs. deviate. As Faulkner relays the story in a narrative that jumps a number of years, the structure presents particular insight into the nature of change and tradition. While tradition vs. change is articulated through a number of elements in the story, it is perhaps seen most clearly in terms of Emily herself. Faulkner even writes, Alive, Miss Emily had been a tradition, a duty, and a care a sort of hereditary obligation upon the town (Faulkner, web). While the story explores Emilys life from a number of periods, she is always articulated as a sort of traditional aspect of the town, a sort of portal into the past. Even as Emilys funeral occurs at the end of the story Faulkner links her to the former(a) members of the community. He writes that they linked their lives in with Emilys, ?...confusing time with its mathematical progression, as the old do, to whom all the past is not a diminishing road, but, instead, a huge hayfield which no winter ever quite touches, divided from them now by the narrow bottleneck of the most recent decade of years (Faulkner, web). While this is a masterful piece of writing, it also demonstrates Faulkners thematic linking with the traditional order. Faulkner explores the clash of the traditional and modern world perhaps most acutely when the city attempts to straighten out taxes from Emily. Emily had