Abstract

A Rose for Emily, set in social change of southern America, describes the tragic fate of Emily Grierson, an aristocratic descent. Emily suffered from the pain which society and her identity brought to her. She was controlled by her father, which made defects in her character. Emily finally went through her life by living in solitude. This dissertation will analyze Emily’s tragedy from the conflicts of the south and north to the sharp social change in that area, from the control of her father to the betrayal of her lover, from the Emily’s distorted personality to the Faulkner’s localism. Emily’s miserable fate represents the tragedy of the whole society. As a symbol of tradition, Emily is the victim suffering from the conflicts between the new value and traditional value.

Keywords: Emily; society; isolation; tragedy

Contents

Abstract

摘要

1.Introduction.1

1.1 William Faulkner .1

1.2 A Rose for Emily.1

2.Literature Review2

2.1 The study of foreign scholars.2

2.2 The study of  domestic scholars.3

3.The Analysis of Tragedy of Emily3

3.1 The analysis of tragedy from social background4

3.1.1 The Southern culture.4

3.1.2 The intervention of townspeople.5

3.2 The analysis of tragedy from family influence6

3.2.1 The control from her father.6

3.2.2 The prevention from her female cousins.7

3.3 The analysis of tragedy from Emily’s characters7

3.3.1 Emily’s silence and arrogance.7

3.3.2 Emily’s isolation and eccentricity.8

3.3.3 Emily’s ambivalence.9

4. Conclusion.10

Works Cited.12