English Literature

William Faulkners A Rose for Emily follows the sad love affair of a noble mans daughter. The storys two main characters, Emily and Homer, meet their tragic end not entirely because of their own doing they become unlucky victims of the society that they are in.

Emily Grierson, the main protagonist, is living in isolation in her inherited house, shutting herself from the outside world. Her fixation to an upper class life makes her abhor the townspeople. She carried her head high enough. It was as if she demanded more than ever the recognition of her dignity as the last Grierson (William Faulkner, Collected Stories of William Faulkner 125). Not only her mental state deteriorates, her physical appearance shows ugliness as well. ...a small, fat woman. She looked bloated (Ib 121).

She is not entirely to blame for her deterioration, though her father plays a great part of it. He controlled her life since her childhood until his death, conditioning her mind to a kind of life ideal to him a hypocritical noble and respected existence that makes everybody else insignificant. ...the Griersons held themselves a little too high for what they really were.(Ib 123). Emily has never experienced the excitement of being wooed by a man because of her father. We remembered all the young men her father had driven away (Ib 124). After her father dies, Emily holds on to the belief that she is still superior. Her mind is consumed by the past which clouds her ability to distinguish fantasy from reality. See Colonel Sartoris. (Colonel Sartoris had been dead almost ten years) (Ib 121). Despite her eccentricities, the townspeople do not consider her crazy. Incidentally, the townspeople also have a significant part in Emilys fate their incessant interference with her life and her affairs makes Emily to detest them more. They take delight with her misfortune....and in a way, people were glad.(Ib123). Worse, they even desire death for her. When Emily buys a bottle of poison, the people presumes that she will kill herself, and they all agree that it would be the best thing(Ib 126).Emily is aware of all the gossips, but the mighty air in her forbids her to stoop down to the level of the people she considers inferior. Her hermitic life suddenly shows color when she meets Homer Baron.

Homer is a physically attractive man, who easily captivates and fascinates the townspeople, perhaps the ladies as well, with his charm however, when he starts to show interest with Emily, it is the same people who scrutinize him and deem him as unworthy of Emilys attention since Homers social status is way lower than Emilys. They doubt his intention to her because they learn that Homer liked men, and it was known that he drank with the younger men in the Elks Club--that he was not a marrying man.(Ib 126). Here, one side of Homer can be assumed he is a homosexual. Perhaps he is only using Emily as a front to conceal his other side and maintain his masculinity. On the other hand, though, this can also be viewed as the way of a bachelor who cannot let go of the pleasure brought by being a single.
 
Their love affair pushes through, yet the townspeople continue to condemn the couple.... it was a disgrace to the town and a bad example to the young people.(Ib 126). But Emily seems to be determined to keep his man to herself, even if she has to kill to do it. Emilys crime, poisoning Homer, is a clear indication of an insane obsession. However, in a closer look, she does it for two reasons a revolt over the happiness that was deprived by his father when he was still alive and defiance to the townspeople who oppose her relationship with Homer. This time, she is not to be denied of her happiness.

Society drives Emily to prefer living in isolation and deteriorate in a world she creates, leading her to commit such unspeakable act. Similarly, the same factor leads homer to his unexpected end. Nevertheless, the two lovers defy all odds and prove that till death do they part. Perhaps in another lifetime, they can find the happiness that they long to have.