A Rose For Emily Literary Analysis

In "A Rose for Emily" by William Faulkner, the life of Emily Grierson is recounted through the story. Faulkner begins with her funeral, which the whole town happens to attend. Through a series of flashbacks, it is revealed that her father was very controlling of her. He would reject many potential suitors. Because of this remained single for most of her life even after her father died. Sometime after her father's death, she became friendly with a day laborer named Homer Barron, until he disappeared without a trace. After this she became a recluse a mysterious figure among her community, rarely coming out of her own home. Going back to her funeral it is revealed she murdered Homer and kept his body in her upstairs room. At many points in the

She gives off an entitled attitude when interacting with others and behaves as if she is untouchable. When the city council pays a visit to make her pay her taxes she ignores them and acts if it is a childish request to have her pay taxes. She then forces them out the same way she did when they came to ask about the smell coming from her house. By simply ignoring their requests it shows that she believes that rules don't apply to her. Another example is her interaction with the druggist when she bought the arsenic. She had a cold demeanor when talking to him as if she was much better than him. In this encounter, Emily also talked down to the druggist making him feel intimidated and probably worthless. When asked to provide the reason why she was buying the arsenic, as it is required by law, she remained silent and only stared at him until he went to retrieve the arsenic. This shows again how she believes the rules do not apply to her. This draws similarities to the real life case of Ethan Couch, better known as the "Affluenza Teen". Couch was found guilty of killing four people while driving drunk and only received ten years of probation rather than the twenty years of jail time that was being pushed for. The court reasoned that he was too wealthy to know right from wrong. As Jessica Simons of Marquette University writes, "…the wealthy seem to be able to find their way around the legal system and be treated much more leniently than people of less affluent backgrounds."(Simons). This causes one to think had he been from a lower social class would the punishment have been more