A Rose for Emily is a famous William Faulkner’s story primarily notable for its narrator point of view and intricate chronological sequence of events. The narrative is recounted in the first person, yet, in an untypical form of such point of view. There is not a single storyteller name that the reader should follow. Sometimes it seems as if the town was telling the story as the author used such pronouns as “we” and “our” (Watson 121). Or else, it appears that one person recollected the events based on rumors.
Perhaps, the audience may assume that the narrator is the collective consciousness of the town’s citizens. It also revolves around three generations who witnessed Miss Emily’s life events (Watson 122). This is clearly shown in the constant change of opinion about Miss Emily, the story’s main character. Many people attended her funeral since she was a person of respect. Nonetheless, when locals discover Miss Emily killed her lover, they still feel affection for her. Regardless of her deeds, the townspeople show her complete respect and servility. In general, the narrator sympathizes with Miss Emily, never judging her actions.
As a result, Faulkner’s narrative style creates tension, as the reader cannot predict what will happen due to incoherent information. The story reminds a collection of rumors with the elements of suspense. Even though the narrator presents judgments both for and against the protagonist, they also draw outside observations related to her past life’s details. It seems like he grows with her as the plot develops – from young and easily influenced to old and confident. In general, the reader can feel the closeness to the storyteller because of the wide usage of the personal pronoun “we.”
Reference
Watson, Jay. William Faulkner and the Faces of Modernity. Oxford University Press, 2019.