Abstract

A Rose for Emily is one of the most famous short story written by William Faulkner, depicting the last elderly southern lady, Emily’s tragic life and revealing the shadow of the traditional southern culture in the era. In this dissertation, I will mainly discuss and explore all the possible and potential causes leading to her tragedy from the conflicts of the south and north to the sharp social change in that era, from the restriction of her father to the betrayal of her lover, from the Emily’s distorted personality to Faulkner’s localism. Emily is a victim of that society.

Keywords: characters; attitudes to love; social change

Contents

Abstract

摘要

1. Introduction of the author and his work.1

2. The causes of Emily’s tragedy2

2.1 Emily’s characters

2.1.1 Emily’s haughty character3

2.1.2Emily’s isolated and eccentric character.4

2.1.3 Miss Emily’s necrophilia..5

2.1.4 Miss Emily’s braveness and toughness5

2.2 The influence of her father and her lover6

2.2.1 The influence of her father.6

2.2.2 The influence of her lover7

3. The influence of southern tradition and social change7

3.1 The influence of southern tradition.8

3.2. The influence of social change.9

4. Conclusion10

References.12