FREE ESSAY ON A ROSE FOR EMILY

A ROSE FOR EMILY

Emily is a woman that has had a hard life. Her family made it so that she was held in
high regard in the public eye. She was not suppose to encounter relationships that were
below her stature. The town, being the antagonist, drives Emily to her insanity because
they will not allow her to lead a normal life. They liked the "show" they were watching
a
refused to give it up.
The narrator explores how Emily is defined in her position in the town by her
name and her father. "People in our town, [. . .], believed the Griersons held themselves
a
little too high for what they really were." (pg.83) Emily's father had been controlling
during her early life and had stopped all suitors from visiting her. " we had all
remembered all the young men her father had driven away, [. . . ]" (pg.84) Emily is
forced to live in a house were her father will is paramount to her own. When he dies we
understand this lose is almost to much for her to bear. " Miss Emily met them at the
door, dressed as usual with no trace of grief on her face. She told them her father was
not dead." (pg.84) The denial of her fathers death is explained by the narrator: "and we
knew that with nothing left, she would have to cling to that which had robbed her, as
people will." (pg.84) 
The narrator also explores the way in which the towns people define Miss Emily
as " a tradition, a duty, and a care, [. . . ]" (pg.81) This definition is narrowly
drawn. Her
rank is one of the " representatives of those August names, [. . . ]" (pg.81) When she
begins her relationship with Homer Barron, his name shows irony because he is described
as " " a northerner, a day laborer,"' (pg.84) the towns people are appalled. " Then some
of the ladies began to say it was a disgrace to the town and a bad example to the young
people." (pg.86) The towns people go as far as to send the Baptist preacher, the towns
moral leader, to chastise Emily regarding this relationship. Emily refutes this
chastisement and quickly flaunts her relationship with Homer. " The next Sunday they
again drove about the streets, [. . . ]" (pg.86) Having been rebuked, the ministers wife
enlists the aid of Emily's cousins to pressure Emily back into the role they feel she
should
play. They do arrive at which time Emily buys poison. The towns people feel placadid
after Emily buys the arsenic. " So the next day we all said, " " She will kill herself"',
and
we said it would be the best thing." (pg.85) The towns people it seems would have Emily
play by their rules as have been defined by tradition and duty or commit suicide. 
Emily at first tries to break away from the defined role after her father dies by
establishing a relationship with Homer Barron. When she sees how the community reacts
she is torn between maintaining her stature and connecting to man in a relationship.
This
conflict ultimately leads her to madness. She buys the arsenic not to kill herself but
to
kill Homer Barron. However, she cannot bear to relinquish their relationship and so
keeps his corpse in her bed where she has murdered him. Her denial for death which is
foreshadowed in her fathers comes into play here as she is able to play her societal
role
while keeping her sweetheart forever in her bed.
As you can see because of her father, her social stature, and the town she was
driven to insanity. Without all of these variables Emily might have been able to lead a
normal life. Living up to others expectations is not an easy thing to do. We can all
learn
a lesson from Emily, living up to others expectations is not as important than the
happiness of our own.