“The fact that I have moved my characters around in time successfully, at least in my own estimation, proves to me my theory that time is a fluid condition which has no ecistance exept in the momentary avatars of individual people.” William Faulkner. William Faulkner’s “A Rose for Emily” is a very complex and coherent short story. The story is set after Civil War in the southern town Jefferson, a town clinging to the Old South’s values but adapting the eventual changes that the Reconstruction Era brings with it. The heroine Miss Emily Grierson is the last member of the old aristocratic Grierson family. When searching for “the” theme of the story, one is confronted with many possible solutions: the conflict between North and South, the conflict between the individual and the community, between men and women. No matter though, what the results are, one aspect cannot be ignored: it is the aspect of time, the conflict between the past and the present. There are many possibilities to approach this aspect. The tragedy that Faulkner describes involves the key issue of the passing of time and the related changes. I will show how the author makes it visible by exploring the significance of decay as a sign for passing time. Time itself suggests the presence of a past and a present. On this issue Faulkner presents two conflicting views within the story, which I will examine with a special interest on the view that Miss Emily inherits. In this paper I will also try to clarify the importance of the difference of the story line of events and the actual chronological order of the scenes of Miss Emily’s life. Before examining the story, I will give an overview of the life and work of William Faulkner, followed by a note on influences on his fiction and the significance of his short stories.
Table of Contents
1 INTRODUCTION
2 WILLIAM FAULKNER
2.1 Chronology of William Faulkner´s Life and Works
2.2 Influences on Faulkner´s Fiction
2.3 Faulkner and Short Stories
3 A ROSE FOR EMILY
3.1 The Story Line of Events
3.2 The Chronological Line of Events
3.3 Decay as a Symbol of the Passage of Time
3.4 Faulkner’s Two Conflicting Views of Time
3.5 Emily’s Life in the Past
4 CONCLUSION
Objectives and Topics
This academic paper examines the thematic significance of time and its progression in William Faulkner’s short story "A Rose for Emily." The study explores how the protagonist’s refusal to acknowledge the passage of time leads to her psychological isolation and ultimate tragedy, contrasting her static past with the evolving reality of the town of Jefferson.
- Analysis of the narrative structure and chronological vs. story-line events.
- Exploration of physical and symbolic decay as a representation of time passing.
- Examination of conflicting philosophical views of time (linear progression vs. the "meadow" of the past).
- Psychological evaluation of Miss Emily Grierson’s inability to distinguish between reality and illusion.
- Biographical context of William Faulkner and its impact on his fiction.
Excerpt from the Book
3.1 The Story Line of Events
The narrator of the story is the unnamed representative voice of the town, who is apparently present at Emily Grierson’s funeral, where the narration starts. He has obviously known her and her life story since she was about twenty and experienced all the gossiping of the townspeople concerning her. The way he tells the story reminds of a stream of memorized pictures of Emily and scenes of her life, the events are not chronologically ordered. At the first reading this seems confusing but on the other hand very natural since in memories time lines often vanish. The story line therefore differs a lot from the actual chronological line of the events.
In this paragraph I will shortly give an overview of the story “A Rose for Emily”, maintaining the author’s presentation of the scenes of Emily’s life, jumping back and forth in time.
As said before, the story begins at Emily’s funeral when “Miss Emily had gone to join the representatives of those august names where they lay in the cedar-bemused cemetery among the ranked and anonymous graves of Union and Confederate soldiers who fell at the battle of Jefferson.”
Summary of Chapters
1 INTRODUCTION: Outlines the significance of time as the primary conflict in the story and establishes the research goal of examining the tension between the past and the present.
2 WILLIAM FAULKNER: Provides a comprehensive biographical overview of Faulkner’s life, his early influences, and his career as a prolific author of short stories and novels.
2.1 Chronology of William Faulkner´s Life and Works: A detailed timeline covering Faulkner's upbringing, literary milestones, and the publication history of his major works.
2.2 Influences on Faulkner´s Fiction: Discusses how regional Mississippi history, family legends, and literary associations shaped the author’s creative output.
2.3 Faulkner and Short Stories: Analyzes Faulkner's approach to the short story form, noting the difficulty of the medium and the importance of his collected volumes.
3 A ROSE FOR EMILY: Serves as the analytical core of the paper, focusing on the specific narrative and thematic elements of the titular story.
3.1 The Story Line of Events: Examines the non-linear structure of the narrative and the narrator's perspective on Emily’s life.
3.2 The Chronological Line of Events: Reconstructs the story's timeline to identify the distinct stages of Emily's life and her changing relationship with the town.
3.3 Decay as a Symbol of the Passage of Time: Explores physical degradation, such as the house, the protagonist, and her surroundings, as metaphors for the inescapable influence of time.
3.4 Faulkner’s Two Conflicting Views of Time: Compares the linear, progressive view of the North with the static, traditionalist, and "meadow-like" view of the South.
3.5 Emily’s Life in the Past: Investigates the protagonist's psychological state, focusing on her denial of reality and her retreat into the past as a defense mechanism.
4 CONCLUSION: Summarizes the interpretation that Emily’s tragic downfall results from her inability to integrate her identity with the flow of time.
Keywords
William Faulkner, A Rose for Emily, Time, Decay, Southern Gothic, Reconstruction Era, Narrative Structure, Chronology, Isolation, Reality vs. Illusion, Jefferson, Old South, Homer Barron, Emily Grierson, Psychology
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary subject of this research paper?
The paper explores the thematic aspect of time in William Faulkner's "A Rose for Emily," specifically focusing on the conflict between the past and the present.
What are the central themes discussed in the text?
Key themes include the passage of time, the inevitability of decay, the psychological impact of social change, and the tension between traditional Southern values and modernity.
What is the primary research goal?
The aim is to clarify the relationship between the story's non-linear narrative structure and the protagonist's struggle to cope with the reality of time.
Which methodology does the author use?
The paper utilizes a literary analysis approach, examining narrative structure, symbolism, and psychological character development in the context of Faulkner's broader body of work.
What topics are covered in the main section of the paper?
The main section investigates the story's chronology, the symbolism of decay in the characters and setting, the author's philosophical views on time, and the protagonist's psychological isolation.
Which keywords characterize this study?
The paper is defined by terms such as William Faulkner, Southern Gothic, decay, time, narrative structure, and psychological isolation.
How does the author define the 'two views of time' in the story?
The author distinguishes between the 'mathematical progression' of time associated with the Northern/modern mindset and the 'huge meadow' of the past, representing the traditional Southern resistance to change.
Why is Emily’s refusal to accept her father's death considered a turning point?
It marks the beginning of her inability to distinguish reality from illusion, setting the pattern for her later isolation and denial of the present.
- Quote paper
- Dipl. HDL Kerstin Gehmlich (Author), 2003, The Aspect of Time in William Faulkner´s Short Story A ROSE FOR EMILY, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/67567
