23rd Annual Student Research Conference
All She Wanted Was A Rose: A Feminist Reading of Faulkner's "A Rose For Emily"
Jessica M. Jenkot
Dr. Hena Ahmad, Faculty Mentor
William Faulkner's story "A Rose For Emily" (1930), recounts the life of a woman, but in it, the woman does not speak. Instead, a third-person narrator weaves together details about the woman, Emily Grierson, that bring her to life. The narrator, perhaps a town member, often refers to a collective us or our, the narrator's thoughts thus reflecting those of the society. This voice speaks with sexist stereotypes, like inequality, that were common when the story took place. This paper argues that the perspective of the third-person voice of society serves to objectify Emily as a helpless victim, without self and agency, and as a woman with her fate sealed, despite the fact that in reality, Emily is an independent, functional member of society.
Keywords: woman, oppression, sexism, Faulkner, Feminism
Topic(s):English
Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: 13-5
Location: VH 1304
Time: 9:00