Faulkner’s Narrative Complexity in “a Rose for Emily”
The Art of Literature
Faulkner’s Narrative Complexity in “A Rose for Emily” “A Rose for Emily” by William Faulkner divulges the reader into a story of tragedy brought on by a prideful southern society whose ability to cope with their new lifestyle is restricted. Faulkner carefully crafts his piece with meaning that begs the reader to dig deeper and unveil the message concealed between the lines. His main focal point is the protagonist Emily Grierson, who is implied to be a mysterious individual. Her story along with the townspeople’s is told from an unnamed, genderless narrator. The narrator’s voice shifts back and forth from the collective view of the townspeople to that of an individual person. Faulkner’s nonlinear style of narration provides additional evidence towards the overall theme of misguided morals ending in tragedy with its synthetic translocation in history. The unconventional method of storytelling found in “A Rose for Emily” is not only unique within the history of all literature, but it also constructs the reader’s mindset into one congruous with an analytical historian. Faulkner’s deliberate juxtaposition of the scenes within “A Rose for Emily” is done to ensure his reader will be persuaded to see the South’s historical transition the way he did. Faulkner lays out a complex map to follow, which leads his reader along a journey through the ideologies of the Pre and Post Civil War generations and sends an overwhelming message that the new South was not developing easily. Before understanding how Faulkner’s overall intention is related to his choice in narration, one must first understand where his message is coming from within the narration. “A Rose for Emily” begins with Emily’s funeral and ends just after her funeral. The story leaves the reader where he or she started, but provides additional backdrop from a series of flashbacks that do not consistently move in time. Emily’s death represents her life at an end and the story being frozen
Faulkner’s Narrative Complexity in “A Rose for Emily” “A Rose for Emily” by William Faulkner divulges the reader into a story of tragedy brought on by a prideful southern society whose ability to cope with their new lifestyle is restricted. Faulkner carefully crafts his piece with meaning that begs the reader to dig deeper and unveil the message concealed between the lines. His main focal point is the protagonist Emily Grierson, who is implied to be a mysterious individual. Her story along with the townspeople’s is told from an unnamed, genderless narrator. The narrator’s voice shifts back and forth from the collective view of the townspeople to that of an individual person. Faulkner’s nonlinear style of narration provides additional evidence towards the overall theme of misguided morals ending in tragedy with its synthetic translocation in history. The unconventional method of storytelling found in “A Rose for Emily” is not only unique within the history of all literature, but it also constructs the reader’s mindset into one congruous with an analytical historian. Faulkner’s deliberate juxtaposition of the scenes within “A Rose for Emily” is done to ensure his reader will be persuaded to see the South’s historical transition the way he did. Faulkner lays out a complex map to follow, which leads his reader along a journey through the ideologies of the Pre and Post Civil War generations and sends an overwhelming message that the new South was not developing easily. Before understanding how Faulkner’s overall intention is related to his choice in narration, one must first understand where his message is coming from within the narration. “A Rose for Emily” begins with Emily’s funeral and ends just after her funeral. The story leaves the reader where he or she started, but provides additional backdrop from a series of flashbacks that do not consistently move in time. Emily’s death represents her life at an end and the story being frozen
Cited: Harris, Paul. “In Search of Dead Time: Faulkner’s “A Rose for Emily””. KnownScope (2007): 169-183. JSTOR, 27 March 2012. William, Faulkner. A Rose for Emily. The Norton Introduction to Literature. Ed. Booth, Alison, and Kelly J. Mays New York: W.W. Norton &, 2011. 308-315. Print.