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... to those angels in coloured church windows- sort of tragic and serene. It gave me the image of someone with a child-like innocence who clearly was in dire need of some help, she sounds very lost. The other thing that grabs me about this description is the use of the word angel which I find ironic considering that we later find out that she keeps a corpse locked away in an upstairs room.
Its safe to maybe say that she is an Angel of death. The other character that keeps coming up in this story, and seems to have an eerie presence, is the Negro slave; Tobe. Hes mentioned in the first paragraph (... old man-servant - a combined gardener and cook) which to me indicates that he has a key part to play in the story, if he didnt then; why mention him in the first paragraph? He says nothing, and you never know what hes thinking, but I think he has a close relationship with Miss Emily. He knows exactly whats going on in the house yet he keeps his mouth shut and remains loyal to Miss Emily.
Hes the one to admits Homer Barron into the house just before his disappearance. He knows everything thats happened in the house and he stays by Emily's side until she dies, meeting the first of the visitors at the door He walked right through the house and out the back and was not seen again. I believe this is because he does know what theyll find in the bedroom upstairs and I think he fears that the people of Jefferson wouldnt blame Emily for the corpse upstairs because shes a respected lady, theyll blame him and punish him. Emily is the only person who calls Tobe by his first name, which I think shows that hes more than just a servant to her; hes her carer and protector, hes her new guardian. The narrator refers to Tobe as the Negro and it is only because of Emily that we find out that Tobe has a name. Homer Barron is a major character in the story as hes Emily's sweetheart, and although we have no real evidence we believe it to be his corpse that is found in the upstairs bedroom.
I found it interesting that the Author chose the name Homer which derives from Homer meaning; Pledge, hostage, which is what Homer becomes. He becomes a detainee in Emily's home and becomes her pledge; her assurance, her promise and security. Also the name Barron (barren) meaning bare and empty which is what Homer Barron is; on the outside hes attractive and popular, but inside he has nothing to offer. Were given a very good description of Homer Barron... a Yankee -- a big dark, ready man, with a big voice and eyes lighter than his face. I think the reason for such a good description is to paint a very clear of image of why Emily was attracted to him and to also give you the idea that this man is clearly not the kind of guy she wants to get involved with.
He seems to be a very popular guy (pretty soon he knew every-body in town. Whenever you heard a lot of laughing anywhere about the square, Homer Barron would be in the centre of the group. ), very friendly possibly a bit over friendly (as I believe him to be a flirt), but I think his popularity and social skills seem to be a major reason why Emily would be attracted to him as shes had a very sheltered life and I dont think she really knows how to interact with others. There was some sort of relationship between Emily and Homer Barron because they were seen together a few times and one Sunday afternoon they pass... in a glittering buggy, Miss Emily with her head high and Homer Barron with his hat crocked and cigar in his teeth, reins and whip in a yellow glove. So Homer was interested in Miss Emily, but I think she was probably an easy woman for him, without realising because she had no previous experience with men, and I think after having an intimate relationship with Homer she thought they would marry, but then he shattered her dreams when he told her that he was not the marrying type. Homer must have liked Miss Emily as he came back to visit her after all his work in Jefferson was finished (and as the rumours of the couple being married started to make the rounds).
If we are to believe that it is his corpse that is found in the bed at the end I think this also shows that there had been a physical relationship between Homer and Miss Emily; as his corpse lay in the attitude of an embrace. I found there to be a lot of symbolism within this story. Firstly; the title of the story is A Rose for Emily, yet there is no mention of a rose but we do know the story is about Emily. I think Homer is Emily's rose.
when you hear the word rose you think of a deep red coloured flower (sometimes with little thorns around it), red is a colour symbolizing love and passion (sometimes anger). Homer is Emily's passion, he is the man she loves. She treats him like a rose; (to keep a rose we cut it from its bush; killing it) and dries his body out. I think Emily's house reflects on the outside what is going on inside.
We are told the house was once... white, decorated with cupolas and spires, and scrolled balconies... (white symbolizing innocence and purity). The house was once elegant and well looked after as was Emily once. When Emily dies were told... Miss Emily's House was left, lifting its stubborn and coquettish decay above the cotton wagons and gasoline pumps - an eyesore among eye-sores, symbolizing the decay of not only Emily but of Tobe (her Negro servant); whod now grown old, and of the corpse that was rotting in an upstairs bedroom. Not only does this symbolism the decay of Emily physically but it symbolizes the decay of Emily; mentally.
Another thing that struck me was when the druggist sent the package of Arsenic to Miss Emily; ... there was written on the box, under the skull and bones; for rats (despite Emily not giving the Druggist a reason for her wanting the poison - another indication of her power over the towns people). The reason; for rats stuck in my head was because I felt that Homer Barron was the rat. Homer wasnt really very good for Emily, and her father wouldnt have approved of him. Homer was a love-rat and I believe the poison was for him, despite Emily not giving a reason for wanting it, and the fact that were not sure how Homer disappeared.
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