Analysis of A Rose for Emily from the Perspective of New Historicism

【Abstract】New Historicism is a mode of literary study. “Subversion” and “Containment” are two feasible tools employed by New Historicists to analyze the literature works. “Subversion” can be comprehended as the subversion of the dominant discourse, whereas “containment” as the containment of the subversive forces. In A Rose for Emily, the heroine Miss Emily “subverts” the tradition and social rules through a strand of eccentric yet horrible acts to guard her love. On the other hand, the “subversive” force is checked by “containment”.

【Key words】A Rose for Emily; New Historicism; subversion; containment

Introduction

A Rose for Emily was William Faulkner's first short story to be published in a national magazine. To some extent, its intricate plot and crafty unconventional style result in various interpretation possibilities. More significantly, historical sense permeates throughout the story. The story is set in the post Civil War period which, more often than not, evokes people’s complicated emotions and profound meditation upon the past history to illuminate the future for the Americans. In this sense, the story can be analyzed from the perspective of New Historicism.

1. “Subversion” and “Containment”

To analyze A Rose for Emily from the new historical perspective, two main theoretical tactics are adopted―“subversion” and “containment”.

With the aid of the dominant discourse and the discourse hegemony, the authority always succeeds in preserving the stability of its control. But there is an urgent necessity to subvert its power so as to make its presence justifiable and visible although the efficiency of this subversion is not boundless. In order to sustain its power, any durable political and cultural order not only to some degree allows, but actively fosters “subversive” elements and forces, yet in such a way as more effectively to “contain” such challenges to the existing order. That is to say, subversion is to subvert the containment while containment is to contain the subversion.

2. “Subversion” and “Containment” in A Rose for Emily

2.1 Analysis of “Subversion” in A Rose for Emily

In A Rose for Emily, Emily goes against the grain and violates the dominant social discourses, the social customs, the social standards and the institutions. This can be proved by a series of seemingly eccentric, pitiful, deformed yet forceful behaviors of Miss Emily to protect her love.

With the development of plot, the subversive force of Miss Emily grows more and more powerful. Homer Barron comes back in town and back to Miss Emily’s house three days after the leave of Miss Emily’s cousins. This is when Miss Emily poisons Homer Barron to death and keeps his corpse at her house since then for about forty years. Her extreme yet bloody way to own love is unaccepted but it challenges the social rules, mores and the tradition.

In sum, subversion in every development of the story is the inextricable component of the story and contributes a lot to the central meaning and plot of the story.