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Gender Roles In William Faulkner's A Rose For Emily

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In the short story “A Rose for Emily”, William Faulker (Faulkner) explores gender criticism through the male-female aspect, which points to what Faulkner is arguing for and why he chose to display this in such a way. The story is set in a small Southern town and centers around the life of the character, Emily Gierson. “Emily is a mysterious figure who changes from a vibrant and hopeful young girl to a cloistered and secretive old woman.” (In-depth Analysis of Emily Grierson) "A Rose for Emily", explores the themes of gender roles, society's expectations, and the dynamics between men and women. The male-female aspect of the story is evident in the way that Emily is treated by the men in her town. Throughout her life, she is subjected to the …show more content…

Emily is depicted as a vulnerable and isolated woman who is oppressed by her father's strict and controlling behavior. Her father's dominance over her life symbolizes the patriarchal society in which she lives, where men hold power and control over women. Her father refuses to allow Emily to have any independence or control over her own life. Throughout the story, Emily is consistently described as passive and submissive, with the narrator referring to her as "a fallen monument." (Faulkner, 1) She is seen as a representation of the traditional Southern woman, who is expected to be obedient to men. This is contrasted with her father's dominance, as he exerts his authority over Emily by controlling her interactions with the outside world and forbidding her from pursuing romantic relationships. In the end, Emily's actions in the story demonstrate her rebellion against the male-dominated society in which she lives. By taking control of her own life and making decisions that go against the expectations placed upon her, she becomes a symbol of female empowerment. In this way, Faulkner uses the character of Emily to highlight the unequal treatment of women in Southern society and to challenge traditional gender …show more content…

In "A Rose for Emily," he presents the perspective of the townspeople who are judgmental and hypocritical in their treatment of Emily. At the time it was written, the South was still dealing with the aftermath of the Civil War and was undergoing significant social and cultural changes. Faulkner's argument was to highlight the negative impact of rigid societal expectation. He wanted to show the flawed and narrow-minded attitudes of the townspeople, who were quick to judge Emily, but unwilling to understand or accept her

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Miss Emily comes from an old wealthy line of family in the deep south. Faulkner story is highly symbolic, enhancing miss Emily’s values and character. “Miss Emily is described as a fallen monument to the chivalric American South”(Allmon). Faulkner uses the setting of the story to show the emotional state of Emily. The female-male relationship between Emily and her father is strict, oppressive, and controlling; Their relationship has a major impact on Emily’s character Throughout the short story.

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This ultimately characterize women as having less decency. During the life of Emily's Father, he doesn't allow her to date. Emily father thinks their family is

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