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A Rose For Emily

No Rose for the Weary

It is made clear in William Faulkner’s story A Rose for Emily that Miss Emily suffers from a psychological disorder, maybe even more than one. There is even reference to a history of psychological disorders through out her family. In the story the citizens of the town acknowledge that they are aware of the history of mental illness and know something is wrong with her but do nothing to try to help. Perhaps if they had tried to intervene before Emily went over the top, they could have spared Homer Barron’s life. Instead, they acknowledge the foresights when they say “Poor Emily” (Faulkner 705) and look the other way, offering no assistance.

The town had its first indication that Miss Emily was loosing her mind when they went to see her about her taxes. She was persistent that they talk to Colonel Sartoris about this matter. At first it doesn’t seem strange till narrator lets the reader know that he had been dead for ten years (Faulkner 703). Also, when her father had passed away, she wouldn’t let them take his body away for three days. She would tell them that her father was not dead. The narrator also lets us know that the town is aware of her potential mental illness when he says “People in our town remembering how old lady Wyatt, her great aunt, had gone completely crazy at last” (Faulkner 704). They talk about how Emily had cut her hair short which at that time was not in style meaning that it was very out of character for a woman to do that. Another indicator that something is not right is when Miss Emily starts to date Homer Barron. The town said that for a Grierson to think seriously of a day laborer was so unheard of “that even grief could not cause a real lady to forget noblesse oblige” (Faulkner 705). The author even makes a point to have the towns people say “Do you suppose it’s really so?” (Faulkner 705). Meaning, “Do you think she has really gone completely mad like her great aunt?”

The worst part is that they all have...