"A Rose for Emily" -Characterization

William Faulkner's "A Rose for Emily" uses the character Emily Grierson to show contrast between the past and present, specifically of her life as it was, in the town of Jefferson, located somewhere in the southern United States. The narrator begins with the funeral of Emily. Miss Emily is referred to as a "fallen monument" (ARE 531, NIL). This indicates to us that Emily represented what was left of the prominent Grierson name, long time, and …

…changes occurring around her and the loves of her life that leave her. He also throws in a bit of suspense allowing us to wonder if she is going to kill herself, because she has trouble living in the present world alone. The ending is somewhat of a shock. Faulkner has tried to leave us wondering how drastic changes in the world can affect us, and in our attempt to find, hold and keep Love.