23rd Annual Student Research Conference
"A Rose for Emily" and Gender Role Confliction
Patrick F. Linhares
Dr. Hena Ahmad, Faculty Mentor
In William Faulkner's short story "A Rose for Emily," the protagonist Emily Grierson, as Faulkner states, has "a young girl's normal aspirations to find love" but is restricted to do so because of her controlling father who believes that no male could ever meet the family's standards for Miss Emily. His pompous and controlling attitude creates a situation where Emily is conflicted in molding to female gender stereotypes which both tell Emily to choose between finding true love or conform to the female obligation of attending to her father's will. While she strives for independence in a patriarchal society, she allows men to dominate and dictate her social, financial and romantic endeavors. I will argue that Emily's concurrent struggle for freedom from male domination against her acceptance in men ruling her life creates a discord in her psyche and is the reason for seemingly bizarre act of crime she perpetrates.
Keywords: "A Rose for Emily", gender roles, William Faulkner, feminism
Topic(s):English
Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: 61-4
Location: VH 1304
Time: 3:30