The paper is about an individual versus the society within the context of the book ‘A Rose for Emily’. Every individual has his or her own role and impact over the society and the relationship with the members of the society. The centralized theme of William Faulkner's story "A Rose for Emily" is to leave your past and move on. The character Emily possesses the ability to be stuck with the past and has a refuses to show independency in her nature.All through the story the author with the help of symbols used to inter relate the period of re-construction of the South. The story has been viewed as an allegory of southern history, a metaphorical depiction of North-South relationships, feminist nightmare or feminist victory, a gothic horror story, a sociological picture of individualism ruined or individualism successful, a depressing fictional tale.
As a rose is proof that love once flourished, as looking at and holding that preserved rose are ways to revive precious memories, so is Homer Barron to become such a token for Miss Emily.Thesis statement The paper is based on the theme of individuals versus the society and explained within the context of the book ‘A Rose for Emily’ by William Faulkner. The different behaviors of people with the passage of time and the complexity of feelings within their relationships have a strong impact on the society.DiscussionI.
“Harsh splitting in the society amounts to the splitting of the human ego” (Doi, 2001, p. 89). People become very conservative and less friendly when they do not socialize and meet other people in the society. In return, the society feels that person is arrogant and come up with different scandals about the person. All humans are social animals and any individual who does not get along with the members of the society is less regarded as a normal person and becomes a target of people’s criticism. In the context of ‘A Rose for Emily’, the townsfolk make assumptions that she is living in isolation because she is getting older and did not settle down with a husband in her early adult life.
II. “It is sometimes said that society carries the individual as a river carries a boat” (Emerson, 1870, p. 113) In youth Emily is not wholly separated from her somewhat sympathetic environment. In later life, however, she withdraws more and more until her own death again exposes her to the townspeople.
With the passage of time people withdraw themselves from the rest of the members of the society and start living alone and away from other social activities. They society has a major impact on an individual and the individual has a major impact on the society. We cannot cut off ourselves from the society and in the end we have to be a part of them.Miss Emily denies the fact that her father has died at all. She continues this denial for three days until she finally allows the burial of the body—under the threat of legal actions. Miss Emily's actions upon this first major death in her life suggest the danger of remaining stuck in this first stage of grief for an extended period, and foreshadow the irrational approach that Miss Emily takes toward her later relationship with Homer Barron.
Miss Emily denied so many of the human connections that life offers, unwilling or unable to function in terms of everyday society.III. “The community does not achieve order by suppressing the individual but by nourishing the person” (Kern, 2010, par.22).
One can imagine that, had Miss Emily been a poverty-stricken unfortunate when her father died, and had since remained unmarried, the town's general reaction to her situation might have included more empathetic responses. The society had sympathies for Emily and looking at her miseries they had built a soft corner for her. Being a human being Emily was in need of emotional and moral support and to fulfill this need the people around her were ready to comfort her rather than leave her to suffer her miseries.Emily being a female was a weak person and that is the main reason she was facing depression because of the mishaps of her life. The town has remained fascinated by Miss Emily throughout her life, and only upon her death are the townspeople able to begin to satisfy some of their curiosity about the woman who held such a respected place in Jefferson County.
The moment of revelation comes when we find, along with the townspeople, the long-deceased body of Homer Barron that lies in Miss Emily's wedding bed, kept in a posture of love.IV. “A large number of studies suggest that poor social support is associated with mental health problems, such as depression”. Living alone and away from the social circle and communities can create situations where a person can have mental health problems. Just like Miss Emily was facing serious depression and stress in her life. She did not want to meet people or socialize with them and always wanted to live alone and away from everyone.
Thus, it is understood that Miss Emily, at this point, short and thick. In addition, at the same point, her voice is described as "cold and dry" (Faulkner, 18). Dry means not sufficient water.This can be compared and because of Miss Emily, not having enough contact with other people and not feeling loved or needed.
She was a rose, but being inactive with people made it difficult for them to see the real Miss Emily. After being locked up for such a long time and having no friends, who would not ultimately go crazy. Because of her father's intervention with previous suitors, Emily has passed the usual age for courting when Homer Barron arrives in town sometime after her father's burial. Emily needs love so desperately that she is willing to bend and perhaps even flaunt tradition when she allows Homer Barron to court her.
V. “Economic hardships means new challenges for women” (Hillier and Barrow, 2010, p.85) Hardships, problems and sufferings for a woman are increased when she is alone and broke. Her father did not leave behind any money for her survival neither she had any life partner with whom she could share her burdens of life. She was a woman, yet, the man of the house. Her sufferings made her feel alone and she no longer wished to live her life the way she used to live when her father was alive.
Miss Emily kept herself locked away from society for so long that "rose" color faded and dust collected. In the story, Miss Emily's central character trait is denial of change.She writes on "note paper of an archaic shape" in "faded ink." She insists that Colonel Sartoris, who "had been dead almost ten years," will explain why she pays no taxes. She refuses for three days to admit that her father is dead.
She wants to keep him as she has known him instead of allowing him to return to dust. The Baptist minister calls upon Miss Emily to take to task her for the disgrace to the town caused by her affair with the Yankee Homer Barron. Conclusion"A Rose for Emily" highlights the ways in which human beings function in socially stratified communities, commenting on the social mores that class depends upon as well as the psychological and sociological consequences Emily is a lifeless “Southern Belle” whose life has faded beyond recognition as a rose fades without nutrients. She has fallen into bad condition just as her house has become a decaying shack.
A woman who waited long for a complete life filled with love and adventure, ended in a tragic death.Miss Emily slipped into a fog of depression and isolation when she realized her life would not continue with Homer as she had thought. Simply put, Miss Emily lost her sanity. Faulkner ends the tale of Miss Emily's life with a narration surrounding the scene of her death and, in doing so, suggests the very important role that this phenomenon plays in how we come to know and understand this character.
