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Metaphors
Definition of Mood
The mood of a piece of writing is its general atmosphere or emotional complexion—in short, the array of feelings the work evokes in the reader. Every aspect of a piece of writing... read full definition
The mood of a piece of writing is its general atmosphere or emotional complexion—in short, the array of feelings the work evokes in the reader. Every aspect... read full definition
The mood of a piece of writing is its general atmosphere or emotional complexion—in short, the array of feelings the work evokes... read full definition
Section 3
Explanation and Analysis:
The mood of "A Rose for Emily" is mysterious and ominous. Many of the times when Miss Emily interacts with a character or a group of characters, these characters never come back to see her again. One example is when Miss Emily goes to buy arsenic and refuses to disclose what it is for:
Miss Emily just stared at him, her head tilted back in order to look him eye for eye, until he looked away and went and got the arsenic and wrapped it up. The Negro delivery boy brought her the package; the druggist didn't come back. When she opened the package at home there was written on the box, under the skull and bones: "for rats."
The refusal to disclose what the arsenic is for creates a mood of mystery. After all, if it was for rats, then Miss Emily might have simply said so. Instead, Miss Emily stares at the druggist, fighting for dominance of the room while also relying on the weight her name carries. Further, the added detail of the druggist never coming back suggests that he may suspect something and wants to keep out of it. Lastly, the description of the skull and bones on the packaging evokes a sinister and macabre feeling. The note "for rats" is almost comical as Miss Emily tenaciously refuses to disclose what the arsenic is for.
Along with a mood of mystery are hints of somberness and depression, linked to nostalgia. Here is one portrayal of Miss Emily that captures this mood well:
Now and then we would see her in one of the downstairs windows—she had evidently shut up the top floor of the house—like the carven torso of an idol in a niche, looking or not looking at us, we could never tell which. Thus she passed from generation to generation—dear, inescapable, impervious, tranquil, and perverse.
Not being able to relate to her surroundings any longer and having no friends, Miss Emily confines herself to the comfort and familiarity of her own house. There is a feeling of isolation and loneliness often associated with Miss Emily. Much like her house, Miss Emily represents the past that no longer has a place in the future—she becomes obsolete. Shut in her house, all Miss Emily can do is wait for the death that inevitably awaits her.
Related Themes:
Section 4
Explanation and Analysis:
The mood of "A Rose for Emily" is mysterious and ominous. Many of the times when Miss Emily interacts with a character or a group of characters, these characters never come back to see her again. One example is when Miss Emily goes to buy arsenic and refuses to disclose what it is for:
Miss Emily just stared at him, her head tilted back in order to look him eye for eye, until he looked away and went and got the arsenic and wrapped it up. The Negro delivery boy brought her the package; the druggist didn't come back. When she opened the package at home there was written on the box, under the skull and bones: "for rats."
The refusal to disclose what the arsenic is for creates a mood of mystery. After all, if it was for rats, then Miss Emily might have simply said so. Instead, Miss Emily stares at the druggist, fighting for dominance of the room while also relying on the weight her name carries. Further, the added detail of the druggist never coming back suggests that he may suspect something and wants to keep out of it. Lastly, the description of the skull and bones on the packaging evokes a sinister and macabre feeling. The note "for rats" is almost comical as Miss Emily tenaciously refuses to disclose what the arsenic is for.
Along with a mood of mystery are hints of somberness and depression, linked to nostalgia. Here is one portrayal of Miss Emily that captures this mood well:
Now and then we would see her in one of the downstairs windows—she had evidently shut up the top floor of the house—like the carven torso of an idol in a niche, looking or not looking at us, we could never tell which. Thus she passed from generation to generation—dear, inescapable, impervious, tranquil, and perverse.
Not being able to relate to her surroundings any longer and having no friends, Miss Emily confines herself to the comfort and familiarity of her own house. There is a feeling of isolation and loneliness often associated with Miss Emily. Much like her house, Miss Emily represents the past that no longer has a place in the future—she becomes obsolete. Shut in her house, all Miss Emily can do is wait for the death that inevitably awaits her.
Related Themes:
