In the short storyA Rose for Emily. Faulkner uses the function of male figures in Emily’s life to supply of import character traits. The two work forces in her life. her male parent. Mr. Grierson and her fellow Homer Barron lead her to go a shelled up. introverted and cryptic adult female. Emily’s male parent is her first and most influential male figure. supplying the foundation for her “insane”-type behaviour in ulterior old ages. Homer Barron comes along subsequently and forces Emily to revisit the dictatorship of her male parent and the negative experiences she had with work forces in her yesteryear. The relationship Emily had with her male parent in her early old ages led her to hold faulty relationships with work forces and even worlds in general throughout her full life.
From the beginning of the narrative the reader gets the thought that the Grierson household is one of aristocracy and importance in Jefferson. Mr. Grierson seemingly struck a trade with Mayor Col. Sartoris that the Grierson household would non hold to pay revenue enhancements until the decease of Miss Emily. This trade is one that Emily believes is to be kept. but the town rapidly forgets it. demoing that Mr. Grierson has put a strong sense of high quality into Emily. She believes it is to be kept. no affair what. because her household struck the trade ( 29 ) .
Mr. Grierson is really evidently ‘”old South” . His attitude towards adult females. as evident in the intervention of his girl. reflects his antique ways and his inability. or his deficiency of desire. to travel on into the hereafter. Throughout Miss Emily’s childhood. her male parent believed that “none of the work forces were rather good plenty for Miss Emily” ( 31 ) . Mr. Grierson did non let his adult girl. even at the age of 30. to do her ain determinations. Additionally. Emily did non experience it was her topographic point to move on her ain behalf. The name and attitudes that Mr. Grierson passes on to his girl symbolically opposed the alteration that was traveling on around them.
This expostulation to alter continues for Emily instantly after her father’s decease. and thenceforth. When her male parent dies Miss Emily denies his decease to the visitants coming to comfort her. Although she is forced to give in and let her male parent to be buried. the “crayon portrayal of Miss Emily’s father” ( 29 ) farther emphasized the great impact he had on her life style and mentality.
The said impact that Mr. Grierson had on Emily haunted her later in life when she met a adult male of romantic involvement. Homer Barron was a hapless. “Yankee” who charmed Emily and brought her dorsum out into the populace during their wooing. The fact that Emily take to even see Homer was fascinating every bit far as Mr. Grierson would hold ne’er allowed it when he was alive. She was seeking to believe for herself. and it allowed her to come out of her heartache for her male parent every bit good as free her from her reserved nature. This province was ephemeral. though. as she poisons Homer when it become evident he does non be after to pass the remainder of his life with Emily.
The fact that Emily toxicants Homer and keeps the organic structure in her house is a direct consequence of the manner her male parent brought her up. She clings so tightly and is so destitute of the work forces that she is unable to penetrate life without them. She did non take to be this manner. nor did she want to be so dependent on them. The rigorous. overmastering demeanour of Miss Emily’s father stuck with her for her full life and finally led to her failure to go a successful and mature adult female.
