In everyday life, the average American encounters many symbols every day. Symbolism can be best described as a person, place, or object that means something much more than what it is being described. Colors are great examples of symbolism. The black color symbolizes death and pain while the gray color symbolizes distress and worry. Inanimate objects also exhibit symbols. A chain symbolizes a link in relationships while the sun symbolizes spirituality and visibility. In the story A Rose for Emily, the townspeople gather to mourn the death of Miss Emily Grierson. As they gather together, each person remembers memories of the woman, both good and bad. Emily Grierson was a settled young woman who lived with an overbearing father and a silent servant. Emily was never allowed to date or want a man because her father would keep her captive and isolated from any relationships. The day her father died, Emily couldn't let her father go; that is why she kept her father with her for three days, denying that he was dead. Time passed and Miss Emily decided it was time for a change. Miss Emily crossed paths with a man named Homer Barron. He was a Yankee laborer from upstate who worked near the Grierson home. The townspeople were disappointed because of the Grierson name. According to them, they thought Emily would never fall in love with Barron. They were wrong. After a while of going out and having fun, Homer was never seen again. Miss Emily was seen buying weird items for the wedding, which made the townspeople think they were getting married. Another day, Emily bought arsenic and was never heard from again. The Grierson house began to appear dusty and unsanitary over the years. The day...... middle of paper ......e subliminal text, giving the short story a better understanding through literary technique. Works Cited Faulkner, William. “A rose for Emily.” Heritage of American literature. Ed. James E. Miller. Vol 2, Austin: Hacourt Brace Jovanovich, 1991. 1215. Print. Madison Cavell Editors. “The role of city dwellers in Faulkner’s “A Rose for Emily.” Madison Cavell Word Press. N. p., October 15, 2012. Web. March 17, 2014. Shmoop editorial team. “The house in “A Rose for Emily”. » Shmoop. Shmoop University, Inc., November 11, 2008. Web. March 17, 2014. Shmoop Publishers. “Homer Barron.” Shmoop. Shmoop University, Inc., nd Web. March 17, 2014. Study Mode Editors. "Symbols in 'A Rose for Emily'." Study mode. Study Mode, Inc. November 1, 2012. March 17, 2014. Sparknotes Editors. “A Rose for Emily Themes, Motifs and Symbols.” Sparknotes. Sparknotes, Inc., and Web. March 17 2014.