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A Rose for Emily
William Faulkner's "A Rose for Emily "provides a critical overview of the traditional and
patriarchal character of the society that defines and controls Emily's position in her own house
and her community. The plot is set against the Southern society of the 20th century in
America. Emily is denied freedom based on the expectations of her father and what society
expects from her. The influences of a patriarchal society and the expectations of women shape
her personality. The essay would focus on how the position of women in society gets controlled
by patriarchal ideologies in a male-dominated society. Emily tries to live up to the ideals set by
society, and her relationship with her father and Homer Barron reflects her struggles to survive in
the patriarchal community. Her behavior reflects on how she tries to break away from the
patriarchal character of the society she lives in.
Background
Faulkner's story 'A Rose for Emily" is placed in a small-town Jefferson, and he places
Emily in the generations of Mississippians (Bonner 492). Jefferson town is a well-established
community with deep engrained traditions. This is why the townspeople take no time to unite as
one once they see any behavior which is inappropriate for society. During the 19th century, it
was customary for a man to work and for the woman to sit at home and take care of the house.
She was not expected to earn or live independently. She was criticized by society for not able to
find a suitable man for her who can earn and take care of her. It is only if she can marry a man of