Introduction
In any given story, the development of characters by the author is usually accompanied by one main idea or theme which the author represents using various descriptions including the actions of the characters and the consequences of those actions. In William Faulkner’s ‘A Rose for Emily” the primary theme is isolation from the rest of the society. This theme or central idea is mainly exhibited through the actions and experiences that the main character, Emily goes through.
The beginning of the story which is a flash forward funeral exhibits this isolation. Faulkner writes “When Miss Emily Grierson died, our whole town went to her funeral the women mostly out of curiosity to see the inside of her house, which no one save an old manservant-a combined gardener and cook-had seen in at least ten years” (1). This statement shows just how Emily was isolated from the rest of the society to the point that she rarely invited anyone to her house, and perhaps this is why some women were curious to see the inside of her house.
Her father’s death acts as a catalyst for her isolation and alienation from the society, but it also appears even when her father was alive she was still isolated. Faulkner mentions that her father was very controlling and had, in fact, kept Emily in a confined environment. Because of this, Emily is not prepared to deal with relationships out her confinement.
After the death of her father, Emily is unwilling to accept change and perhaps this why she leads an isolated life. She has the whole town wondering what she does, but she does not give the townspeople the opportunity to find out. After the desert of the men, that she cared for, Emily is extremely afraid of confronting reality. Faulkner states "After her father's death she went out very little; after her sweetheart went away, people hardly saw her at all" (2). She does not wish to wish to accept that the people she cares for have gone and consequently, she takes refuge in her house. Emily remains inside her home and does not venture out. This aspect is a perfect exemplification of a town who has been isolated by male dominated and controlled society.
Although, Emily still has a family back in Alabama, it appears that she is also isolated from them (Faulkner 3). For instance, Faulkner talks about the arriving of her cousins. He does not however give many details, and it almost appears as if the cousins virtually came out of nowhere. Emily is clearly isolated from her family because as observed, they did not attend the funeral of her father when he died.
In spite of the seemingly negative implications of isolation, Faulkner cleverly uses it to reveal a character trait of Emily. The whole town believes that Emily is weak and frail woman, but what they do not realize is that Emily is in actual sense a very strong woman who is capable of even violent crimes such as murder. She kills he lover, Homer, who has clearly declared his intentions of leaving her (Faulkner 4).This also leads to another exemplification of isolation from the society, When she goes to buy rat poison, no one even asks her what she is going to with because of this isolation (Faulkner 4). Had she been close with the rest of the society members, they are would have shown an interest in why she was buying the poison, and she planned to do with it. In fact, many assume that she is probably going to kill herself with it and in spite of this, they do not act in any way to stop or restrain her. Although the poison was not for herself as shown, regardless, the lack of interest from the society members shows the levels of isolation and alienation that she shares with this immediate community.
It is, therefore, not only Emily who isolates herself from the community. Alternatively, the society totally shuns her after the death of her father. It does not regard her as an actual or real person who has emotions and feelings. The patriarchal status that she enjoys perhaps acts as a threat to the community who consequently shuns. Eventually, the isolation from the community leads Emily to madness, and she dies as a lonely and sad woman.
In conclusion, the primary theme in William Faulkner’s “A Rose for Emily” is that of isolation. Faulkner’s shows how an event in one’s life can lead them to isolation from the rest of the society. He also shows some of the characteristics of society that is very fast to shun individuals who it deems to be deviant from its ascribed values. In this regard, Emily is both a victim of herself and the society.
Works Cited
Faulkner, William. A Rose for Emily. 1930. Print.
