23rd Annual Student Research Conference
Patriarchal Oppression in William Faulkner's "A Rose for Emily"
Corey C. Elkins
Dr. Hena Ahmad, Faculty Mentor
William Faulkner's short story "A Rose for Emily" follows the saga of Emily Grierson in the early 20th century American South. Throughout the story, Emily's life and personality are shaped by her controlling father and her town's male dominated society. Emily's oppressive relationships eventually drive her to isolate herself from the town and murder Homer, the man who seemingly took her fathers place as a dominating male influence. This paper will analyze how Emily was subjugated and exploited by her father, and was an outsider in her town's culture; it will also examine why, despite initial revulsion at discovering Emily has poisoned Homer and slept next to his body for twenty years, the reader can still feel sympathy for her.
Keywords: "A Rose for Emily", William Faulkner, Feminist Criticism, Relationship, Patriarchal, Oppression
Topic(s):English
Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: 61-3
Location: VH 1304
Time: 3:15