Bereavement and the Psyche: A Thematic Approach. The themes of “A Rose for Emily” by William Faulkner and “The Jilting Of Granny Weatherall” by Katherine Anne Porter are similar, in that, both stories seem to portray the importance of following the Kübler Ross Grief Cycle. This cycle is typically referred to as the ‘five stages of grief,’ and is comprised of denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance, respectively. In each story, the protagonist is affected by the death of an influential person in their lives; moreover, neither follow the suggested cycle. This lack of acceptance coincides with an increase in mental instability and emotional volatility relative to the alternative approach. Although these stories carry a similar theme of denying …show more content…
The rose is symbolic of death, specifically the death of Emily. Roses fulfill the needs of a rather dark niche, finding themselves being placed atop caskets before and during burial as well as given to the loved ones being left behind by those who have passed. The juxtaposition of the rose and Emily’s response to her father’s passing serves as a foreshadowing mechanism referencing her own death, in that, through not accepting her father’s death and therefore the accepting of roses at his funeral, Emily is forced to accept a rose at her own funeral. Faulkner conveys Emily’s denial by stating, “Miss Emily met them at the door, dressed as usual and with no trace of grief on her face. She told them her father was not dead. She did that for three days” (Faulkner 559). Through Emily’s actions, the reader gains insight into her mechanism for coping. It is evident that her responses are emotional and caused by the death of her father and are not just the reactions of one who lacks empathy such as a sociopath or psychopath; her inability to cope with his death causes her to deny its mere