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A Rose For Emily Essays: Symbolism Of Time And Change

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Hunter Sellers
Mrs. Ruiz
English 102
April 18, 2023
The Symbolism of Time and Change The deep, symbolic meaning of a rose is a flower that not only represents something pretty but also expresses love, passion, and commitment to other people. Symbolism is essential in life, and in the short story “A Rose for Emily”, by William Faulkner the rose room and watch are perfect examples of symbolizing change. This narrative tells the story of a former Southern aristocrat who becomes a recluse after the death of her father. She confines herself to her family manor for several years; however, she later falls in love with Homer Barron, a laborer from the North. In order to keep him from leaving her, she poisons him and keeps his body in an old, rose-themed …show more content…

When the town tax collectors come in, they note, "They could hear the invisible watch ticking at the end of the gold chain”(Faulkner 36). This quote shows that the watch, which had belonged to her father, represents the unyielding progress of time. This timepiece additionally represents the fixed and unchanging values of the past that she desperately tries to hold with her. She wears the watch on her person throughout the story, and it becomes a grim reminder of her isolation and her inability to adapt to the modern world. Additionally, the watch represents decay and the inevitability of death, as it is found lying on a pillow next to Emily's lifeless body at the end of the story. The watch is a powerful symbol highlighting the themes of tradition, change, and death that permeate the narrative of "A Rose for …show more content…

The room is described as “Decked and furnished for a bridal . . . curtains of faded rose color, upon the rose-shaded lights, upon the dressing table” (Faulkner 37). The room at first appears to have once been a cause for beauty and love, but it soon becomes apparent that this symbolizes the decay of Emily's state of mind and her once-noble family. The room is only accessible through a locked door, just as Emily locks herself away from her community and refuses to let go of the past. The room is also described as having "heavy, ornate" furniture, which emphasizes the weight of the past on Emily and her family. Emily's attachment to the room represents her obsession with the past and refusal to acknowledge the changing times. Ultimately, the rose-themed room serves as a dramatic symbol of the decay and isolation that Emily and her family

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