A Rose For Emily

A Rose For Emily by William Faulkner

A Rose For Emily is a very dark, but sad story about a woman that spent a very long time searching for something to hold onto, and once she found that, she could not let go. 

Miss Emily was the last of her kind in an old town. Her father being a generous person for the town many years ago, Miss Emily's house was paid for and her taxes had been paid for by the government officials presiding nearly after her father's death. The only problem with this agreement was that there was no record of it, and Miss Emily had not paid taxes in years, despite the notices the city began to send her in this new age. 

As it normally goes in small towns, stories down to the smallest details can be told by anyone living in the town. Everything is known by everyone, and there are not any secrets. Homer Barron, a construction worker from the north was sent to do repaving and Miss Emily found herself attached to the man, as did the whole town.  The townspeople saw Miss Emily purchasing a men's suit and nightshirt, assuming without complete assurance, that Miss Emily had finally been married. After Barron entered Emily's home one night, he was no longer seen in the town. Neighbors said nothing, but in the theatre aspect of it all, were disappointed not to see a huge scene of pain at the news of him leaving her for his job. He had to have left for his job, being a traveling construction worker. 

After years and years of not seeing Miss Emily, the town grew curious about the old woman. When the notices kept coming from the newer generation of city officials, Miss Emily quickly stated that her father was a generous man and the city takes care of her taxes, and sent the officials along their way. 

It was not until the day Miss Emily's negro servant announced Miss Emily's death that the town knew the true story of Miss Emily. With the last woman of the old world gone, the house was inspected and it was finally understood why Miss Emily didn't leave her house. Barron was keeping her company.

Barron never returned to his job. He never left Miss Emily's home. Miss Emily did not want to let go of the only man who ever loved her. It had taken her many years to find a connection with somebody, and once Barron was dead, she kept him in that same bed she slept in. She bought him a nightshirt and left everything as it was.

She lived the same old way.

She kept the house the same.

She kept herself the same.

She kept him the same.

The last piece of the old generation was gone after many years of trying to preserve an old way of life by preserving everything in that life.

A time