What Does Hair Symbolize In A Rose For Emily

Lindsey McMaster

Callie Ruiz

English 101: Literary Analysis

18 April 2023

The Role of Symbolism in “A Rose for Emily” After many years of intense fighting, the American South lost the Civil War, leading to the Reconstruction Era that essentially stripped the South of everything excluding their heritage and culture. At this time, the old generation of Southerners resisted modernization, clinging to the traditions from their past. This historical situation gave rise to the struggle between maintaining tradition and embracing modern changes. In “A Rose for Emily,” William Faulkner utilizes symbolism to emphasize the story’s theme and bring about a deeper understanding. The story opens with the news that Miss Emily Grierson, a social recluse

After Emily’s father dies, the narrator remarks, “When we saw her again, her hair was cut short, making her look like a girl” (Faulkner 34). This girlish haircut acts as a reflection of Emily’s current behavior, which is marked by petulance and immaturity. Many years later, the townspeople note Emily’s “iron-gray” hair, “like the hair of an active man” (Faulkner 36). Like an iron helmet, this description suggests that Emily has something important to protect, such as the secret of Homer’s murder. Even when Emily no longer leaves her house, the townspeople continue to note her servant’s graying hair and stooped posture (Faulkner 36). Through these descriptions, Faulkner illustrates the passage of time and the contrasting ways it affects people. As time progresses, “the newer generation [becomes] the backbone and the spirit of the town,” yet Emily remains unchanged in her attitudes toward others and the past. These symbolic descriptions further highlight Emily’s resistance to change, and they display the danger of refusing to accept the passage of

Following Emily’s death, the townspeople examine the inside of her house, noting the “valance curtains of faded rose color” and the “rose-shaded lights” that adorn the bridal room (Faulkner 37). In most works of literature, roses symbolize love and deep affection, the very qualities absent from Emily’s life. Growing up, Emily was young and beautiful, but her father’s looming presence discouraged any potential suitors. She eventually fell in love with the Northern foreman, Homer Barron, but soon lost him to death. In all, Emily’s life was characterized by unsuccessful attempts at love, explaining why Faulkner felt the need to pay his sympathy toward her. In addition, Faulkner’s use of roses can symbolize an overly romantic view of the past, as in the phrase “rose-colored glasses.” Throughout the story, Emily’s attitude is trapped in the past, and she clings to rosy memories of her father and Homer. Through these references to roses, Faulkner both offers his sympathy for Emily’s unsuccessful love and again warns against clinging to an idyllic version of the