Faulkner begins to foreshadow Emilys character by describing her house; he associates the symbolic use of Emilys house to that of her own character. Faulkner first describes the house as stubborn and coquettish and an eyesore among eyesores. This description gives the reader the impression that Emilys house, much like Emily, was a burden. The word coquettish suggests the shyness of Emily and her attempt to shut out the rest of the town. Faulkners statement about the house it smelled of dust and disuse reinforces the link between Emily and her house. The fact that Emily never maintained her house and refused to post a mailbox and an address shows her struggle with modernization.
Inside the walls of this stubborn and coquettish home, lives a woman struggling with the progression of time. As the town progresses and modernizes, Miss Emilys house remains persistent, much like Emily herself. Miss Emily is also described as a small, fat woman in black, with a thin gold chain descending to her waist and vanishing into her belt, leaning on an ebony cane with a tarnished gold head. Faulkner effectively uses symbols within this description to paint a more vivid picture of Emily to the reader.
Traditionally, in the old south people wore black while they were grieving the death of a loved one. The color black, in reference to Emilys description, can be symbolically interpreted as Emilys unwillingness to accept her fathers death. The cane Emily uses is a symbol of her physical weakness. Faulkner imposes the picture of a frail woman by describing how she leaned on the cane. The mystery of the descending gold chain is then revealed; Then they could hear the invisible watch ticking at the end of the gold chain. This invisible ticking symbolizes Emilys reluctance to observe the passing of time as generations succeed each other.
Faulkners use of intertwining symbols with the physical description allows the reader to develop their own perception of Emily. Emilys reluctance to change is symbolized by her refusal to pay delinquent taxes. When the representatives of her town waited on her concerning her taxes, she declared that she had no taxes in Jefferson. Emily based this belief on a verbal declaration made by Colonel Satoris. The Colonels declaration had been pitted against modernization. This caused Emily to react see Colonel Satoris.
I have no taxes in Jefferson. The Colonel had already been dead for ten years, but Emily refused to acknowledge his death. The refusal to acknowledge the Colonels death symbolizes Emilys failure to accept the progression of time. As well as ignoring the Colonels death, Emily tried to ignore Homers and her fathers. The reaction to these deaths is almost child-like. When children lose a loved one, these children try to convince themselves that the deceased is not dead.
In a sense the child attempts to stop time. Much like the child, Emily attempts to put a halt on time. Emilys refusal to accept the fact that things change as time progresses is symbolized through her reaction to these deaths. The very old men-some in their brushed Confederate uniforms-on the porch and the lawn, talking of Miss Emily as if she had been a contemporary of theirs, believing that they had danced with her and courted her perhaps, confusing time with its mathematical progression.
This quotation strengthens Faulkners ability to symbolize not only Emilys struggle with time, but also the struggle all seniors experience with the progression of time. William Faulkner manipulated this story to keep the reader from imposing judgement. Faulkner manipulated this story by offering key incidents out of chronological order. The story first starts with Emilys funeral.
At the funeral, Faulkner describes the attitudes of the men at the funeral towards Emily; respectful affection for a fallen monument. This excerpt serves to give the reader a discriminating first glimpse of Emilys characteristics. His style of writing can be linked to Quentin Tarantino, one of todays great movie directors. Tarantino used this same style in two of his blockbuster hits, Pulp Fiction and Reservoir Dogs. Much like Tarantino, Faulkner arranged his story like pieces of a puzzle. He only revealed the pieces he wanted you to see, when he wanted you to see them.
This finished puzzle then subjects the reader to dissect and interpret Emilys life the way he wanted you to see it. Emily was a fallen monument of Southern aristocracy. She was a product of an earlier era and seemed to surround herself with constant reminders of the past. Faulkners effective use of symbols in the story allowed the reader to develop their own perceptions of Emily. He used symbols associated with time, history and progression to describe Emilys ancient-like characteristics, as well as fundamental incidents.
The details of the story are revealed slowly and out of chronological order to build a sense of suspicion before the killing of Homer Baron are climaxed. After we are introduced to these symbolic meanings of Emilys life, then we can begin to properly analyze Emilys motives.