While Emily’s body was downstairs and a body was found upstairs. Finally, the people were able to enter her house for funeral. She was not seen for ten years till her funeral. She stayed in the house and had a Negro guy worked for her to do errands and stuffs. Then few years later, she was stopped being seen. She was seen while shopping, in the front of her windows, etc- over the years, her appearance changed to a pulp woman with grey hair. Emily decided to close the china painting lessons and the door of her house nobody entered her house from that time period until her funeral – 40 years. The next generation does not send their children to her for the courses. At age 40, she began to offer China Painting courses for children. But HB left for few days until Emily family left. While, HB came from regular class and it was not normal for two people from different classes to neither marry nor date. Emily comes from old money family, which means wealthy family.

Then her family came to interfere HB and Emily’s relationship due to difference class. Then two years later, she met Homer B they dated for around 6 months. Her father died around a year before she was omitted from paying taxes. The main thing is the timeline – it is very confusing but once you comprehend the timeline and you will be able to figure out the nastiest part.Įmily was born around 1854, because she was excused from paying taxes when she was 30 years old and the author gave us the ONLY year- 1894. There are three main events/points in this short story that I want to discuss but I will only discuss one main thing. William Faulkner seems like a guy who wants to reveals the skeleton of the South- bring their secrets, traditions, thoughts, etc out of closet and show the world. Then, the story worked its way backwards to show the sequences of transformation of the South. The story began with Emily’s funeral, which means she is already dead. I have read a Southern Gothic novel, Ruined by Paula Morris it is not classic story but I believe it is part of Southern Gothic genre.Ī Rose for Emily is filled with confusing, disgusting, horrendous, and mysterious parts. I never knew that there are different subsections for Gothic Literature. A Rose for Emily by William Faulkner is the first classic Southern Gothic story I have read.

Ruined by paula morris summary