Faulkner uses the setting to give insight into the lonely world of Miss Grierson. Faulkner portrays the townspeople and Emily in the Southern town of Jefferson during the early 1900’s. During this time, African-American’s, as well as poor Caucasians, were not treated equally with the respect that they deserve. Faulkner did not agree with this scenario; he believed in equality and made his point very noticeable in “A Rose for Emily”. The town of Jefferson is more than just a setting in the story; it takes on its own characterization along with the main character Emily, and the love of her life, Homer. The setting is the main reason behind Emily’s attitude and actions which gives the reader an easier understanding

At the end, the gray hair found on the pillow represents Emily’s vision of love for Homer; which never existed. She continued to cling to the corpse because Homer was the new father figure in her life and she could not let go. Faulkner’s “A Rose for Emily” is a short story with meaning behind every word. He put his own thoughts and opinions into every symbol. Faulkner shows the tragedy of Homer, a result from our devotion to social roles that limit, rather than liberate, our true selves.

During the story, Faulkner reveals the fact that Emily is “tax exempt” to show the reader her important role in the community and her authority figure. Emily’s father had extreme power in the town and was very close to the past mayor, Colonel Sartoris. Her father was very controlling throughout the whole story, especially when the narrator describes, “Miss Emily a slender figure in white in the background, her father a spraddled silhouette in the foreground, his back to her and clutching a horsewhip.” Her father represents the figure who believed in segregation; which Faulkner dislikes.

The author also uses symbols to compare the Grierson house with Emily’s physical deterioration, her shift in social standing, and her reluctance to accept change. The house is described as “once white, decorated with cupolas and spires and scrolled balconies in the heavily lightsome style of the seventies.” The description suggests that the house was mainly built to impress and attract the attention of the town. As the story progresses, the reader is made aware of the

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