A Rose For Emily Changing South Analysis

In his story "A Rose for Emily," William Faulkner employs many forms of symbolism to highlight his convictions towards the South after the abolition of slavery. The author uses the story to critique the South's fixation on racism, its aristocratic social structure, and patriarchy, all of which lead to division and harm. Moreover, Faulkner uses Emily as a symbol of the changing South; as such, her actions throughout the story serve as a way for the author to portray the South's disinclination to denounce the legacy of slavery, even after the civil war. Her eventual death is a message to the readers that all remnants of slavery's legacy need to be erased to bring about lasting change. From the beginning, the racist sentiments toward Emily's

Throughout the story, the author reminds the reader that times are changing and are leaving Emily behind. As Emily sticks to her old ways, "the next generation, with its more modern ideas, became mayors and aldermen" (Faulkner 2). This new generation will not uphold societal classism, hence the ever-increasing pushback against Emily's tax exception. Emily was the town's last upholder and victim of the old South's customs; however, the reality around her was changing rapidly. As such, her ultimate death is Faulkner’s way of ending the last link to the South's old and racist legacy. However, the author's final message did not conclude here. As revealed in the story, "The man himself lay in the bed... rotted beneath" (Faulkner 8). Decades before Emily's death, the story exposes the reality that Emily poisoned Homer Barron and kept his dead body within her house hitherto. Homer Barron had become too interwoven with the embodiment of the South's prejudice and perished. By revealing this story element, Faulkner conveys the message that getting too close to the beliefs of the old South can be detrimental, even if you do not practice