A Rose For Emily Rhetorical Analysis

Unconventional Storytelling The way a story is written, allows the reader to see not only events, but also character growth, and plot outcomes. Most stories are told in such a way, that the reader is exposed to what happens in a sequential order, so that little confusion or doubt will occur. This type of storytelling was not the case when William Faulkner, wrote “A Rose for Emily”. Faulkner’s use of non-chronological events has led many to theorize about why he chose this method. In the short story, “A Rose for Emily,” Faulkner’s unconventional storytelling allows the narrator to take control of the reader, and only allow them to see clue’s at certain moments, guiding the reader to where and when they want them to be, during certain points, causing the reader to piece

Faulkner divides up the story into five separate sections, using a distinct narration process. With the use of “our,” “we,” and “they” Faulkner uses a first-person plural narrator (Melczarek, 238). Using this type of narration, each section has events that occur that the reader must piece together by using clues set in the text. “Faulkner effects a further complexity: a composite or collective narrative voice, that may or may not span generations, that certainly convolutes the plot-timeline of its delivered narrative motives…” (Melczarek, 238). By using the general townspeople’s voice showing past reminiscing with “our,” and “we,” before changing to “they” to depict a more modern functioning society as Miss Emily ages, it helps the reader to see the time jumps more clearly. “We remembered all the young men her father had driven away, and we knew that with nothing left, she would have to cling to that which had robbed her, as people will” (Faulkner, 302). The