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Literary Devices
Definition of Allegory
An allegory is a work that conveys a hidden meaning—usually moral, spiritual, or political—through the use of symbolic characters and events. The story of "The Tortoise and The Hare" is... read full definition
An allegory is a work that conveys a hidden meaning—usually moral, spiritual, or political—through the use of symbolic characters and events. The story of "The... read full definition
An allegory is a work that conveys a hidden meaning—usually moral, spiritual, or political—through the use of symbolic characters and... read full definition
Section 5
Explanation and Analysis—The Rose:
In an interview, William Faulkner says that the title “A Rose for Miss Emily” is an allegorical title. While Miss Emily never receives a literal rose in the story, the story itself might be read as a metaphorical "rose." Faulkner states that the rose represents a salute to Miss Emily after she faces much tragedy.
One source of tragedy is Miss Emily's isolation, as she attempts to preserve elements of the past and does not embrace change when the town around her does. By giving this story, this "rose," as a gift to Miss Emily, Faulkner in a sense preserves Miss Emily's legacy. Obsolete in a changing world, Miss Emily receives life, purpose, and, more importantly, recognition through this story.
The rose also has the connotation of romance, as it is often viewed as a symbol of love. But for most of, if not all of the story, Miss Emily is loveless; her father does not allow anyone to court Miss Emily when he is alive, and after Miss Emily starts seeing Homer Barron, Barron states that he is not a marrying man and prefers men. Below is the description of Miss Emily's bedroom after the townspeople pry it open:
A thin, acrid pall as of the tomb seemed to lie everywhere upon this room decked and furnished as for a bridal: upon the valance curtains of faded rose color, upon the rose-shaded lights, upon the dressing table, upon the delicate array of crystal and the man's toilet things backed with tarnished silver, silver so tarnished that the monogram was obscured.
The bedroom reflects Miss Emily's sexuality. The description of the bedroom as a tomb makes clear that Miss Emily has remained chaste, not necessarily by choice, for a long time. The faded rose colors also reflect her waning sexuality. In light of this deprivation and lack, the "rose" of the story can be seen as an extension of love to Miss Emily. While love often evades Miss Emily by either death or chance, the "rose" that Faulkner gives to Miss Emily by memorializing her in writing is a kind of enduring love.
