Symbolism in A Rose For Emily William Faulkner used a great deal of symbolism in this story. His use of symbolism captivated the reader until the shocking end of the story. Some of the symbolism was blatant while some was vague and disguised. While Faulkners use of the color white in this story wasnt obvious at first it soon becomes clear that the color white represents innocence and youth. The Grierson house was white and when Miss Emily was a young girl she wore white dresses as opposed to the black attire she wore in her latter years. This represents the innocence of Miss Emily before she becomes a victim of herself and her refusal to change. The yellow color of the wheels of the buggy Miss Emily and Homer Baron rode around town in represented Homers cowardice toward marriage. Another color Faulkner used as symbolism was the color red. Red is the color of love and the bedroom in the upstairs of the house was decorated in red symbolizing her love for Homer. Homer was symbolic too. He represented the North so even though he was Miss Emilys love he was also her antagonist. When the druggist writes for rats on the arsenic it is symbolic of Homer. He was a rat that came into town and took advantage of Miss Emily because he had no intention of marrying her or staying with her because he was a non-secretive homosexual or bi-sexual Homer himself remarkedhe liked men. Miss Emilys hair was symbolic in several ways. First, after her father dies, she cuts it short symbolizing her freedom from her fathers controlling ways. When she is old, it becomes iron gray symbolizing strength and strong will since iron is a very strong element. Miss Emily got that strength from her father. When Miss Emily was younger, riding in the carriage with her father, his back was to her symbolizing his control and also being a barricade between Miss Emily and any potential suitors. The whip he held was a sign of strictness, power, and protectivenes...
