Even if Miss Emily were not a Negro, there would be a feeling as if she were one. As we enter her house with the deputation, we meet the Negro in the "dim hall from which a stairway mounted into still more shadow."(50, the italicization is mine) Miss Emily herself is dressed in black, too, finding it hard to miss her eyes, that are "lost in the fatty ridges of her face, looked like two small pieces of coal pressed into a lump of dough- (51, the italicization is mine). The only bit of light, in contrast to the black scenery, comes from the one window the Negro opens, which allows a "single sun-ray" (51) in. Adding to the bright sides of the situation, are the gold chain that is descending to her waist and the gold head of her cane. It seems as if they exist for the sole purpose of contrast to the overall dark feeling that is surrounding the deputation, probably mixing in with their feeling about the purpose of the visit itself.
Miss Emily is neither a beautiful, nor an attractive lady. She is small and fat, and lives in a house that gives the impression of neglect which effects, or shall we say affected, not only the furniture and body, but the soul, as well. The mere feeling is of Miss Emily's features blending into the background. We can compare the different descriptions: "they could see that the leather was cracked; and when they sat down, a faint dust rose sluggishly about their thighs- (51), as opposed to "Her skeleton was small and spare; perhaps that was why what would have been merely plumpness in another was obesity in her. She looked bloated Her eyes, lost in the fatty ridges of her face, looked like two small pieces of coal pressed into a lump of dough- (51). It is almost as if we were talking about the same thing or person.
