Emily had a deep hatred for the new generation and vowed to push herself further and further back from the community. Perfectly enough, when Barron came into the picture, this was Ms. Emily's chance to really get at the community. Unfortunately, Barron didn't know what he was getting into.
Sadly enough, Ms. Emily had a big problem dealing with change. This is seen at the time of her father's death, as well as when the new generation is coming to collect their taxes. After her father's death, Emily tries to play off that he hasn't died. Many try to enter, but she insists that nothing is wrong. Finally, after three days, she let the community in and they took away her dead father. Another example of Ms. Emily's inability to deal with change is seen when her taxes are coming to be collected. Colonel Sartoris had granted Emily a reprieve of her taxes, shortly after her father's death. However, many years later, long after Colonel Sartoris had passed, the new generation insists that Emily must pay her taxes. Her reply, "I don't have taxes in Jefferson. Go see Colonel Sartoris." Ms. Emily had to have known that Colonel Sartoris had been dead for many years, but it was her inability to deal with change that led her to speak these words. As seen with this example, Ms. Emily was constantly trying to escape the past, but the past was inevitable for Ms. Emily.
Ms. Emily had this notion to live on borrowed time, meaning she was constantly trying to live in the past even with the ever-changing future. She felt that the South should remain exactly like it was and nothing around her should change. Even Tobe was kept around from generation to generation as a reminder of the way the old South used to be, before the new generation entered. The only way he left was because Ms. Emily died; he no longer had a tie to her and could be a free man. .
Ms. Emily's and Barron's relationship created conflict in the South because two completely different backgrounds were emerging together.
