“A Rose for Emily”: The Impact of Being a Late Bloomer Marylyn Chen College

Of all the feelings enjoyed by humankind, one of the greatest and most desired is freedom. Freedom is the reason why many fight for independence from tyranny, colonization, and injustice despite the danger and uncertainty of victory. In addition, equally important to the freedom of countries or groups of people is freedom of the individual. Particularly in older time periods, prevailing stereotypes or ideologies prevent many individuals from exercising freedom of expression, causing unintended consequences, especially if it comes from close family members. In “A Rose for Emily” by William Faulkner, Emily Grierson’s father, along with the critical society in which the Griersons lived, oppresses Emily’s freedom to express desire and sexuality, showing how limiting an individual’s freedom stunts their growth and causes them to behave in unconventional ways.

Emily’s isolation starts in her childhood, as the only person she truly has had a relationship with is her father. However, her father is very overprotective of her, keeping her single and secluded for thirty years of her life until he finally dies. Even when the townspeople imagine her, they visualize her as a “slender figure in white in the background, her father a spraddled...