Analysis of a Rose for Emily

Analysis: A Rose for Emily

The narrator in William Faulkner’s, “A Rose for Emily” is unnamed. It is apparent that this narrator knew much about Miss Emily’s life though it is not made clear what role that narrator played in her life. The narrator’s sympathy for Miss Emily gives the reader an understanding of the way the small town felt about her. The feeling of sympathy for Miss Emily was uniform in all the townspeople. This unnamed narrator sets an oppressive tenor to the story with his observations of Miss Emily’s life. The narrator is able to give the right background information on Miss Emily so the reader can relate the town’s perception of her.

The narrator of “A Rose for Emily” sets a warranted mood with his description of the location of Miss Emily’s home. “But garages and cotton gins had encroached and obliterated even the august names of that neighbourhood only Miss Emily’s house was left, lifting its stubborn and coquettish decay above the cotton wagons and the gasoline pumps-and eyesore among eyesores.” This exposition gives insight into the narrator’s observations of Miss Emily’s exposed life. The first introduction of Miss Emily’s life is painted as forlorn and weathered. Miss Emily is a much sought after dame in her youth but her father will not agree to any of Miss Emily’s suitors. So she ends up alone and detached as her dwelling is. “Throughout the story the narrator displays a certain knowledge of Miss Emily but a conversation between the two never arises.

It seems the narrator holds a place in the town possibly as the Mayor’s assistant. The narrator is able to give detailed information on Colonel Sartoris’ tax situation with Miss Emily. The narrator also is present when Miss Emily is sought out to discuss the current tax predicament on her property. Some events that the narrator shares gives insight to Miss Emily’s past obstacles but Emily’s feelings are not offered. The way in which the narrator shares only information...