William Faulkner's style of writing chronological events out of order is unique, but eventually the story comes together to make sense. I will attempt to analyze the story "Arose for Emily" in its actual chronological order.
The story really begins with the passing of Emily's father. For days Miss Emily refused to believe that her father was dead, until she finally broke down to have her father buried. After her father's death, Colonel Sartoris exempts Miss Emily from paying taxes for as long as she lives. Colonel Sartoris said this was the debt the city owed to her father.
Approximately one year after Miss Emily's father died, she bagan to see a man named Homer Baron. Miss Emily was from the "Old South"1 and Homer was from the North. It was unheard of for a southern and a northern to be together. People began to say "Poor Emily", as she would be seen on "Sunda
A short time later the town began to complain of the smell coming from Miss Emily's house. They had no idea what the smell was really from, and just wanted to order her to clean it. Four men eventually went into her cellar with cleaning products and cleaned the cellar. The town's people thought she was making a statement that she was the "Old South", and was not going to give in to the new ways.
The years would go on and no one would see much of Miss Emily until they finally found her dead in one of her rooms on a walnut bed. At her funeral the old men wore Confederate uniforms and the ladies showed up with curiosity to see Miss Emily; The last of the "Old South".
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