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Emily laid with corpses because all that she had to be proud of was also dead. The strand of hair also symbolizes a life of decay. One of us lifted something from it, and leaning forward, that faint and invisible dust dry and acrid in the nostrils, we saw a long strand of iron-gray hair” “Then we noticed that in the second pillow was the indentation of a head.
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The strand of “iron grey hair” symbolizes a bitter woman who lived a life without ever finding true love. Emily’s father kept her away from finding love. She uses her house to keep Homer’s body as a shrine.
![the lost symbol sparknotes the lost symbol sparknotes](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/nOKCcHFPMxI/maxresdefault.jpg)
Emily alienated herself inside her house to avoid people and change. The house, like Emily, seems out of place in a changing society. “only Miss Emily’s house was left, lifting it’s stubborn and coquettish decay above the cotton wagons and the gasoline pumps. Emily too has grown older and has worn with time. Later, during the time the story takes place, the house is old and worn in. The house used to be one of the nicest houses on the street. They both represent the decline of the “Old South”. Emily’s house, like Emily, is a monument. The rose stands for Emily’s secret that Homer is her “rose” thats she loved and kept to herself even after his body was decaying. “We remembered all the young men her father had driven away, and we knew that with nothing left, she would have to cling to that which had robbed her, as people will.” Emily’s father sheltered her and believed no man was good enough for her.Įmily wasnt given the opportunity to experience love before Homer came into her life. In the story, Homer is the “rose” or love for Emily. Lastly, the strand of hair left on the pillow symbolizes love lost and a life of decay. Emily’s house is also used to symbolize Emily as a monument, alienation, and death. Faulkner uses a rose to symbolize love and secrecy. Symbols in “A Rose for Emily” In the short story “A Rose for Emily”, by William Faulkner, symbolism is used frequently to show insight to hidden meanings in the story.