The literary criticism article of 1930’s William Faulkner’s short story “A Rose for Emily” titled “Miss Emily after dark” is a comprehensive analysis of the narrative. Thomas Argiro presents different ideas and interpretations of the story all based on how Faulkner employs uncertainty and indeterminacy in his narration. In the article, the author argues that Faulkner employs these literary aspects to suggest the occurrence of vices such as necrophilia, murder, miscegenation, incest, fornication, deception, and betrayal. However, both the narrator and the story’s primary character does an excellent job at disguising them that neither the Jefferson’s town folks, nor readers can decode without a deeper understanding. The article analyzes characters, the “impenetrable” plot, double-voiced use of polysemy, as well as unique figurations to explain indeterminacy and uncertainty dominates this short story (Argiro, 1). The author’s point of view is that Faulkner does not want to directly highlight, discuss or criticize some of the negative issues that might be happening even in the contemporary society, and instead, applies uncertainty and indeterminacy. Additionally, the author suggests that the reason behind Faulkner’s approach to these issues is because the society’s misperception, or overall lack of knowledge that they are happening. However, while some of the author’s interpretations of the story such as Homer’s sexuality and murder might be right, but others as Emily’s incest, derangement, and aspects of her affair with Tobe seems too hyperbolic.
One of the primary points that the article discusses is Homer Barron as a character, their relationship with Emily, and his tragic death. Baron comes to town on a construction of the sidewalks project and seems to charm everyone. As the narrator states, “Whenever you heard a lot of laughing anywhere about the square, Homer Barron would be in the center of the group.” (Faulkner, 5). Soon, and somehow unexpected, he begins hanging out with Emily. The people at Jefferson’s town, referred to as ‘we’ in the story begin to talk, just like they have always done. First, they are glad that she is no longer lonely, but some are skeptic that her social class cannot allow her to be with someone like Baron; a Northerner and a day laborer. Here, the article suggests the society’s focus on social stratification, which Faulkner openly suggests in the story. To portray its seriousness, the people even wish for Emily’s family to visit and provide some sort of sense and guidance regarding this issue, because she seems lost going out with a man who belongs in a lower social class than her.
In addition, the author is correct to judge Baron’s sexuality, but the issue is on why he chooses to romance with Emily in his state. Faulkner clearly states that “he (Baron) liked men, and it was known that he drank with the younger men in the Elks' Club-that he was not a marrying man.” (Faulkner, 6). While the article highlights this observation, it does not have an explanation on why this “untypical love affair” between the two might have developed (Argiro, 1). The short story describes how Emily carries herself; with her head high like someone demanding respect for being the last Grierson in the town. There are also other instances that provide a rough idea on the family, describing them as those who perceive themselves as mighty and high. Therefore, the affair between Baron and Emily might have developed from these grounds. Emily is a proud person, and with Baron’s charming nature, she feels that he might be the right young man to marry her. However, she seems desperate that even when word spreads that Baron likes young men, and is not a family man, Emily still clings to the idea of their romance, despite the people’s “Poor Emily” phrase all over town (Faulkner, 4). Her pride presumably leads her to poison Baron, as the article correctly suggests. The motive of her alleged murder could be that she is too proud to look like one who had made a wrong choice in men, and therefore, has no other option.
The article also puts forward the idea that there might be some instances of incest between Emily and her father because of the characterizing behaviors that she exhibits, as well as the person she becomes after her father’s death. According to Argiro’s literature analysis, victims of sexual incest exhibit behaviors such as defiance and pride, promiscuity, multiple personality disorders, and psychotic tendencies (2). However, this assumption seems too hyperbolic, seeing that incest is not the only cause of such behaviors. Additionally, the author only assumes probable incest, based on Emily’s behaviors and not any direct suggestion by the story.
Argiro also suggests that Emily’s supposed acts such as the alleged murder of Baron and keeping his body in the cellar signifies derangement (2). He continues to explain that Faulkner’s uses this to keep up with the primary theme of indeterminacy in the story. However, besides Lady Wyatt who goes completely crazy, there are no other suggestions of mental illness in “A Rose for Emily.” Therefore, there are other explanations that a reader could use to analyze her keeping Baron’s body, besides derangement. If she poisoned him out of revenge or any other reason, as the story wants a reader to believe, Emily hides the body to avoid arrest or tarnishing the Grierson name with a major crime as murder. However, if Baron dies from natural causes, Emily still might hold on to the body because he seems as the only person who brings a little life and romance in her life.
The article also argues that Faulkner employs indeterminacy to hide the fact that Emily and Tobe, her ‘negro’ servant are having a secret affair, as well as how they both manage to hide it from the townspeople. Regarding this suggestion, Argiro provides some agreeable suggestions, but others might have more compelling arguments or reasons for happening. Tobe works for Emily for a long time till her death, and this could be a suggestion that she keeps him for such a period because they have an ongoing affair. However, she has to hide this from the general public because first, it will be the talk of town and secondly, society did not support such kind of relation at that time (Argiro, 7). However, the fact that a previous version of the story states that Tobe knows about Baron’s death and the body in the cellar could explain some instances in the story. Baron might have discovered this affair, explaining why he leaves for a while. On coming back, both Tobe and Emily, due to the fear of being discovered, poisons Baron to silence him forever.
Argiro analyzes Faulkner’s short story “A Rose for Emily” comprehensively. He argues that Faulkner employs the primary themes of indeterminacy and uncertainty to suggest some things that are not explicitly stated. Some of his analysis such as Baron Homer’s homosexuality and alleged poisoning by Emily seems right, through his arguments. However, the issue on Emily’s incest with her father, supposed derangement, and some aspects of her presumed love affair with Tobe seems to have other more compelling rationales. Despite these agreements or disagreements, this literary criticism provides numerous ways of comprehending Faulkner’s story.
Works Cited
Argiro, Thomas Robert. "Miss Emily after dark." The Mississippi Quarterly, vol. 64, no. 3-4, 2011, p. 445+. Student Resources in Context, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A290112231/SUIC?u=mission_main"sid=SUIC"xid=c457350a. Accessed 17th May 2018.
Faulkner, William. A Rose for Emily. (1930).
