The primary point that the author brings to our attention is the fact that the people in this southern town could not give up the past. They used to live with slaves and were a very agricultural town, but this all changed with the civil war. Their side lost and everything changed abruptly and they were not happy with the new changes. So they hung on to Emily which symbolized the old ways of living. This point about time follows the general theme of the story which is to let the past go and keep moving forward. This town felt that the past was better and were not willing to try new experiences which is why they all let Emily get away with all of the things that she did. The narration was not straight forward within the text. They begin with the end and have flash backs to create a more interesting story. The story may have seamed difficult to follow. But if one were to take there time and follow very closely, it became easier to read. Personally i was able to keep with the flash backs and felt that Faulkner did a very good job with the timeline of the story. It was a very interesting, yet creepy, story.
Good analyses on how the townspeople decided to give up the old ways, but somehow stick to them by helping out Emily. Yes, the reading was difficult at first, but it became interesting and more easy to read as it went on. How is time a pro effect in this story?
ReplyDeleteI'm not so sure that it was the towns people that wanted the past. It seemed to be those in power who ignored what Miss Emily did.
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