A Rose for Emily

Change is the future, this is the theme of the short story a Rose for Emily. William Faulkner wrote a beautiful but horrifying short story. Mr. Faulkner ties symbolism, imagery and irony in a Rose for Emily, that is what makes a short story interesting. What caught my eye was the use of Mr. Faulkner's detail in imagery and symbols. The symbols help the reader understand what the theme is. William Faulkner describes Emily as an old foul smelling person who's lost whole family and her sweetheart. He also describes the house as Emily, foul and never changing. Emily's husband represents her rose. Homer, Emily's husband, mysteriously left her and the town does not know why. The reader knows later in the book that Emily was crazy and wanted to preserve her husband so he wouldn't leave her. By preserving her husband, Emily killed him and kept him at her bedside. This is ironic because Homer is decaying and he is not preserved. This also helps the reader figure out the message of the short story.  A Rose for Emily was during the Civil War. The Civil War was time period when African Americans were discriminated by white people. Emily married an African American. Mr. Faulkner was stating that the world can change, people are equal no matter what race. What was most beautiful about a Rose for Emily was the theme and that was if you love someone let them go and accept the change in life and see what lies ahead. In comparison to the other short stories a Rose for Emily was more detailed. Ernest Hemingway's short story, Hills Like White Elephants was very interesting but not detailed enough for a reader to understand the plot or make any literary illusions. White Elephants was about a girl and a boy. The boy wanted the girl to make the decision if she should have an abortion or not. The ending was unclear if she agreed to get an abortion or she didn't agree. If the author put in more detail and more literary uses the reader would understand the plot. Another short story that was not understandable was Indian Camp. Ernest Hemingway's short story was interesting because of it's theme. The theme was social class and desperation. Nick's dad is a doctor in this short story and uses unsanitary tools on the woman that is giving birth which is describing hierarchy and unfairness in the social class. Both a Rose for Emily and Indian Camp were written beautifully but A Rose for Emily was absolutely brilliant.