21-Jun-14
Character Analysis Essay
The character of Emily Grierson is the most obvious element of fantasy in the story, with the combination of the element of compassion. The character itself appears as a mysterious personality, which evolves from the figure of a jolly & energetic young girl and develop into the sketch of a reserve & conservative old women’s personality. This particular transition of evolution could be regarded as the core essence of the story. Hence, undermined with the character depiction of Emily Grierson. At one point, the personality of the lady is marked as the object of fascination because of her gleaming beauty but later becomes a symbol of pity for people around when she had no one to a company, after her father’s death (who reject all the suitable proposals for being unsuitable). In the later part of the story, the lady is publicized to spend her time with the character named Warmer Barren. It can be claimed that she was badly attracted towards the person. Unfortunately, the passing gears vanished away the chances, if any of Warmer Barren to marry her. Her frustration led her to poison Warmer and later consoling his corpse in a hidden room of the house. Hence, this whole series of events evidently marked the character of Emily Grierson as a product of fantasy and remorse.
The true personality of the character of Emily Grierson can be displayed as a replica of a conservative lady who is eccentric & enthusiastic yet falls into the trap of situation and turning in a shuttered & mysterious figure. The very element of personality and the diversions of the character from one facet to the other aspect could be regarded as the core element of the dramatization of the story. At one point, she is envisioned as a glorified personality; well by the end of the story, the villagers view her as pity. This transition of personality changes occurs with the series of excessively frustrating environment conduct that left her aggravated enough to kill the person she admires the most.
The background of the character displays the very feature of her mysterious personality that build up her frustration to the point of illogical and senseless conflicts with subjective bizarre concept.The element can be witnessed when she refused to pay her taxes or decides to buy poison.
"I received a paper, yes," Miss Emily said. "Perhaps he considers himself the sheriff. . . I have no taxes in Jefferson." "But there is nothing on the books to show that, you see. We must go by them" "See Colonel Sartoris. I have no taxes in Jefferson." "But, Miss Emily" "See Colonel Sartoris." (Colonel Sartoris had been dead almost ten years.) "I have no taxes in Jefferson. Tobe!" The Negro appeared. "Show these gentlemen out."
(X. J. Kennedy 36)
Hence, irrespective of the magnitude and its relevant subjective importance she gets involved in terms with the element that exhibits her potential of unbalanced and intense behavior. Her demeanor could be judged from the scene when she refuses to pay taxes and says;
Perhaps one of you can gain access to the city records and satisfy yourselves." "But we have. We are the city authorities, Miss Emily. Didn't you get a notice from the sheriff, signed by him?"
(X. J. Kennedy 36)
A review of the complete story makes it evident that a series of occurring in the life of Emily turned her into a dark and rustic personality from a young and energetic female. The inquisition behind such a depiction was more like that of a momentum which stood on its own at first but later start casting impact on others from its own place. This diversion is very much obvious in the character of Emily, which eventually describes her personality as Necrophilia's that is the person who feels sexual attraction with dead bodies. As depicted;
Then we noticed that in the second pillow was the indentation of a head. One of us lifted something from it, and leaning forward, that faint and invisible dust dry and acrid in the nostrils, we saw a long strand of iron-gray hair.
(X. J. Kennedy 44)
Precisely, it can be summed up that the character of Emily is the lifeblood of the story, which brings the thrill to the plot with the irony of features and variance of emotional, that cast impact on the life of an individual and it's surrounding as well.
Reference;
X. J. Kennedy, Dana Gioia. Backpack Literature: An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, Drama, and Writing (4th Edition). Newyork: Longman, 2012.
