Recommended Reading: "A Rose for Emily"

I would recommend to my friends the short story “A Rose for Emily” by William Faulkner. The story was narrated from a unique point of view: first person plural. The townspeople, “we” point of view gives the story a tone that seems much like gossip; this tone not only makes the story sound more intriguing and mysterious, but also adds something to which the reader can relate. Everyone gossips, especially about unusual people like Miss Emily. The narration tells the story about a mystery that remains unsolved until the last sentence , although much foreshadowing throughout the text alludes to the chilling conclusion. The type of narration helps to keep the reader in suspense until the end.

In many ways, “A Rose for Emily” reminded me of the television series “Law and Order.” It starts with a death and signs of a murder, and then relies on witnesses (the narrator/s) to tell the story of how the death occurred. Similar to many episodes of Law and Order, the main character in “A Rose for Emily” has a sever disconnect from reality and society, and lots of psychological problems. A few of my friends are crime investigation show fanatics; I am sure they would enjoy reading a story about a mysterious, lonely murderess.