William Faulkner’s A Rose for Emily is a well-known short story that belongs in the gothic genre. In this piece, Faulkner paints a sorrowful and memorable picture of a lady who is constrained by the customs and standards of her society. In A Rose for Emily, Faulkner challenges readers to consider their own presumptions by evoking ambiguity and mystery through the use of gothic motifs.
Firstly, the story’s setting—a dilapidated Southern mansion—is a traditional gothic trope that instantly lets the reader recognize that something is wrong. The house’s once-grand front is now fading and deteriorating, earning it the moniker “an eyesore among eyesores” (Faulkner et al. 1). As a result, the story is filled with a sense of dread and anxiety, which sets the tone for the upsetting events that will take place.
The mysterious disappearance of Homer Barron is a second gothic element used by Faulkner throughout the narrative. The locals believe that Homer and Emily will wed, but a few months later, he vanishes without leaving any signs of his whereabouts. As a result, the reader is left in a state of doubt and anxiety, wondering what has happened to him and why. Until the very end, there is no concrete evidence to support the townspeople’s supposition that Emily killed him and hid his body. This uncertainty heightens the gothic tone of the narrative and instills in the reader a sense of unease and discomfort.
It can be concluded that Faulkner encourages readers to consider their presumptions by utilizing ambiguity and mystery through the employment of gothic motifs. The deteriorating home and Homer Barron’s disappearance are evident to be the two tropes that add to the story’s distinctive mood. In the end, A Rose for Emily is a fascinating and unsettling gothic work that still intrigues and tests its readers today.
Work Cited
Faulkner, William, et al. A Rose for Emily. Verlag F. Schoningh, 1958.