Overview of A Rose For Emily Essay

Plot summary

A Rose for Emily is divided into five sections.

The first section opens with a description of the Grierson house in Jefferson. The narrator mentions that over the past 25 years, Miss Emily Griersons home has fallen into disrepair and become an eyesore among eyesores. The first sentence of the story sets the tone of how the citizens of Jefferson felt about Emily: When Miss Emily Grierson died, our whole town went to the funeral: the men through a sort of respectful affection for a fallen monument, the women mostly out of curiosity to see the inside of her house, which no one save an old manservanta combined gardener and cookhad seen in at least ten years.

It is known around town that Emily Grierson has not had guests in her home for the past decade, except her Negro servant who runs errands for her to and from the market. Her father arranges in his will that she would never have to pay taxes; when a new city council takes over, however, they begin to tax her once again. She refuses to pay the taxes and appear before the sheriff, so the city authorities invite themselves into her house. When confronted on her tax evasion, Emily reminds them that she doesn't have to pay taxes in Jefferson and to speak to Colonel Sartoris, although he had died 10 years before.

In section two, the narrator explains that the Griersons had always been a very proud Southern family. Mr. Grierson, Emilys father, believes no man is suitable for his daughter and doesn't allow her to date. Emily is largely dependent upon her father, and is left foundering when he dies. After Mr. Grierson's death, Emily does not allow the authorities to remove his body for three days, claiming he is still alive. Two years after her fathers death, her lover leaves her, and a strange smell starts emanating from the Grierson house.

Section three introduces Emilys beau, Homer Barron, a foreman from the north. Homer comes to Jefferson with a crew of men to build sidewalks outside the Grierson home. After Emily and Homer are seen driving through town several times, Emily visits a druggist. There, she asks to purchase arsenic. The druggist asks what the arsenic is for since it was required of him to ask by law. Emily does not respond and coldly stares him down until he looks away and gives her the arsenic. When Emily opens the package, underneath the skull and bones sign is written, "For Rats."

Citizens of Jefferson believe that Miss Emily is going to commit suicide since Homer has not yet proposed in the beginning of section four. The townspeople contact and invite Emily's two cousins to comfort her. Shortly after their arrival, Homer leaves and then returns after the cousin leave Jefferson. After staying in Jefferson for one night, Homer is never seen again and is believed that he was driven away by Mr. Griersons spirit, which they say is too virulent and too furious to die. After Homers disappearance, Emily begins to age, gain weight, and is rarely seen outside of her home. Soon, Miss Emily passes away.

The fifth and final section begins with Jefferson women entering the Grierson home. After they arrive, Emily's Negro servant leaves through the back door without saying a word. After Emily's funeral, the townspeople immediately go through her house. They come across a room on the second floor which no one had seen in 40 years, and break the door down. They discover a dusty room strangely decorated as a bridal room. The room contains a man's tie, suit and shoes, and a silver toilet set which Miss Emily had purchased for Homer years before his disappearance. Homer's remains lay on the bed, dressed in a nightshirt. Next to him is an impression of a head on a pillow where the townspeople find a single long strand of iron-gray hair. It is thus implied that not only had Emily killed Homer with the arsenic, but also has had an intimate (possibly sexual) relationship with his corpse up to her own death