Time and space in the short story "A rose for Emily", W. Faulkner

Alena Silvanovich. 142.

Time and space in the short story “A rose for Emily” of W.Faulkner.

Rose for Emily is a short story where the chronology of the events and space are the main symbols to reveal the character of Grierson family as they do not contact directly with the other habitants of the city. Through the range of accidental sights: strange smell, shadows in the window, Emily’s purchase in the pharmacy, we are led to the frightful outcome. The narrator of the story is not defined, it is a general opinion, city gossip, which retells these events, so the time and space become a plot-maker factor.  

The chronology develops in two different ways: from the one hand it is a city chronicle which has an aim of reliability. It seems that the story is told from the distance and is objective because the author absence delivers from the biased narrative. It is “our town” and “people” who are the witnesses of what happened. However, on the other hand, the narration keeps the intrigue and it does not move directly as it would be if the collective image of the crowd was sheer author. The time passes irregularly and different events are not shown in the strict order but remembered in such a way which could force the reader to look at them from the wright angle. The chronological perspective is artificial and speculates reader’s attention in order to make disclosure of Homer Barron’s death unexpected final. In this way the image of real author is appeared.

The order of the events begins from Emily’s death and ends with Homer Barron’s death. Faulkner inverts the proper sequence to create a circle composition which will explain Emily’s deed. The beginning of the story pretends that funeral is a cause of the narrative but obviously Emily’s death is expected event unlike the finding Barron’s body at her house. So the story should have begun from this revelation, however, the author provides a long exposition which will introduce why Emily have killed her lover.

The perspective starts from the recent past (funeral) and then moves to the historical past (The Civil War), one incorporated in another. Emily’s being now is a part of the legendary past of her ancestors and her death is an end of the epoch as she has not the heir to continue keeping of the family traditions. Faulkner mentions the battle of Jefferson to sign the main event that caused attenuation of southern aristocratic culture. Emily is a symbol of this culture and “hereditary obligation upon the town” as she lives in a new time but still does not pay the taxes because of gentleman's agreement of Colonel Sartoris which was made in 1894. The attempts to persuade Emily are vain because she does not accept any changes and even the authority is not capable to force her. Refusing to have metallic numbers affixed to the side of her house when the town receives modern mail service, she is out of touch with the reality that constantly threatens to break through her carefully sealed perimeters.

The house of Grierson’s is an embodiment of the passed culture and conservative way of life. The image of the house is a reflection of Emily’s image. It is the only one left on the industrial street, keeping his outmoded decoration and standing out the landscape. The house which the delegation has to visit without invitation is a separated, enclosed world. The windows, through which the character (frequently a girl) connects with the world is a basic motive but here they are always closed and people can only guess what Emily is doing according to her shadow movements.  

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