Post American Civil-War Psychological Trauma in William Faulkner’s A Rose for Emily

Abstract

William Faulkner's A Rose for Emily is a compelling depiction of a psychologically traumatized southern woman experiencing drastic changes associated with the American Civil War. The short story is recounted from the townspeople’ perspective, who closely watch Emily Grierson's inclination to isolation and madness in a desperate attempt to cling to the remnants of her former aristocratic life. Faulkner's cunning use of symbolism, imagery, and characterization techniques illuminates the devastating effects of psychological trauma with its long-lasting impact it may have on an individual's psyche. Faulkner's use of nonlinear narrative, imagery, and symbolism, such as the decaying house, the rose ... etc., highlights the theme of the decline of the Old South and its traumatic effects on its inhabitants. The universal themes of A Rose for Emily, exemplified in loss, loneliness, madness, death, and decay are typical symptoms of trauma, making it a timeless classic of American literature, which continue to resonate among its readers today.