Short Story Course
Author
William Faulkner
Country
United States
Language
English
Genre(s)
Southern Gothic
Published in
1930
Emily Grierson : The object of fascination in the
story. Emily is a mysterious
figure who changes from a hopeful
young girl to a secretive old woman.
Devastated and alone after her father’s death,
she is an object of pity for the townspeople.
Homer Barron - A foreman from the North.
Homer is a large man with a dark complexion,
Despite his attributes, the townspeople view him as
a poor, He disappears in Emily’s house and
decomposes in an attic bedroom after she kills him
a booming voice, and light-colored eyes.
Judge Stevens :- A mayor of Jefferson. Eighty years old,
Judge Stevens attempts to delicately
handle the complaints about the smell
emanating from the Grierson property.
Mr. Grierson :- Emily’s father. Mr. Grierson is a
controlling, looming presence even in death,
and the community clearly sees his lasting influence
over Emily.
Colonel Sartoris :- A former mayor of Jefferson. Colonel
Sartoris absolves Emily of any tax burden after the death
of her father. His elaborate gesture is not heeded by the
succeeding generation of town leaders.
Tobe :- Emily’s servant. Tobe, his voice supposedly
rusty from lack of use, is the only lifeline that Emily
has to the outside world.
Miss Emily met Homer Baron, a foreman with a
construction company, when her hometown was first
getting paved streets. Her father had already died but,
not before driving away her eligible suitors. As rumors
circulate about her possible marriage to a Yankee,
Homer leaves town abruptly. During his absence, Miss
Emily buys rat poison.
When Homer returns, the townspeople see him enter
Miss Emily’s house but not leave. Only when she dies do
the townspeople discover his corpse on a bed in her
house and, next to it, a strand of Miss Emily’s hair.
Section 1: Miss Emily is born
Section 2: She and her father ride around the
town in an old, elegant carriage.
Section 3: Her father dies, and for three days
she refuses to acknowledge his death.
Section 4: Homer Barron arrives in town and
begins to court Miss Emily.
Section 5: She buys a man's silver toilet set — a
mirror, brush, and comb — and men's clothing.
Section 6 : The town relegates her to disgrace and
sends for her cousins.
Section 7: The cousins arrive, and Homer leaves
town.
Section 8: Three days after the cousins leave,
Homer returns.
Section 9: Miss Emily buys poison at the local
drug store.
Section 10: Homer disappears.
Section 11: A horrible stench envelops Miss
Emily's house.
Section 12: Four town aldermen secretly sprinkle
lime on her lawn.
like Emily herself, is a monument,
the only remaining emblem of a dying world of
Southern aristocracy. The outside of the large,
square frame house is lavishly decorated. in
their pursuit of happiness.
The strand of hair is a reminder of love lost
and the often perverse things people do
Emily’s House