A Rose For Emily Symbolism

William Faulkner’s American gothic tale, A Rose for Emily, is clearly a product of its time and suggests to readers that the transition between past and present is indeed difficult but not impossible. The author utilizes literary devices to connect a practically symbolic relationship to the setting. Indeed, these powerful images encapsulated in the story provide substance to the characters and help to drive the plot. With the strict importance of the narrative that implies a wide range of conclusions, it is essentially the metaphors, symbols and repetitions which give the story meaning.
Miss Emily was often referred to as a ‘fallen monument’ (437), a metaphor to describe her as a symbol of antebellum times. She is the most important character,
Miss Emily wants to acquire arsenic to murder Homer Barron because he is not going to wed her. This fragment of the story exhibits how Emily turned out to be so egotistical and dangerous that she would end somebody's life so he couldn't flee from her and she could 'keep him' until the end of time. The poison symbolizes, as well, Emily’s manners; she is a discrete woman —well carried by her feelings. “Alive, Miss Emily had been a tradition, a duty, and a care; a sort of hereditary obligation upon the town” (437). Emily symbolizes the people and the town in that time. She was becoming old, so was the town which made it clear that no one wanted to
The author utilizes literary devices in order to emphasize and illustrate this dichotomy. Faulkner’s use of imagery to connect Emily with her house adds depth to Emily’s character and Faulkner effectively portrayed Emily as an illustration of how individuals are frightened of transition. He also demonstrates through literary devices how humans attempt to abstain from managing death as evidenced by Emily’s actions. Miss Emily, a lost cause —lives in a world made by her own particular personality only to eventually fade away just like old traditions and thereby making her a “fallen monument”