It is ironic because Emily feels that he is a rat for wanting to walk out on her after making her think he wanted to marry her. She decides to kill this "rat" so what better murder weapon than rat poison. The irony is underscored in the story, because Emily asks the druggist for poison, but when he asks why she needs poison, she stares him down refusing to say anything. The druggist is intimidated and lets her buy the poison with no explanation. He writes down as the reason "For rats." And that is just what Emily used it for.
The unclear aspect for the reader is why Emily is purchasing rat poison and what her intentions are for using it. This ambiguity creates suspense and raises questions about Emily's character and motives.
In William Faulkner's "A Rose for Emily," Miss Emily Grierson maintains her dignity during her visit to the druggist despite the townspeople's whispers and judgments. She asserts her social status and demands respect, refusing to be treated as a mere eccentric or a relic of the past. Her insistence on purchasing poison, coupled with her commanding presence, underscores her determination to uphold her autonomy and resist societal expectations. This moment reflects her complex relationship with her identity and the societal changes around her.
Emily used arsenic to poison Homer Barron.
Emily purchasing arsenic is an example of irony and foreshadowing. It is ironic because the druggist writes on the outer wrapper the words "for rats." Emily purchased the arsenic intending to murder Homer Barron, because he was about to jilt her an leave town like a rat deserting a sinking ship. It also foreshadows Homer's death. When she buys the arsenic the druggist says he needs to know the reason for the arsenic, but Emily just stares at him refusing to answer. The druggist relents and lets her take it. This refusal to answer portends that Emily has a use in mind that she cannot or will not tell the druggist. Murder fits that proposed use.
Miss Emily Grierson, Tobe, Homer Barron, Emily's father, Colonel Sartoris, Judge Stevens, Old lady Wyatt, two female cousins, the druggist, and townspeople
The dramatic irony in "A Rose for Emily" occurs when the townspeople discover the reason behind the mysterious smell coming from Emily's house. The reader knows that Emily has been keeping the body of her dead lover, Homer Barron, in her home all along, while the townspeople are shocked to find this out. This contrast between what the reader knows and what the characters know creates tension and adds to the eerie atmosphere of the story.
Someone who influenced Emily as a reader and a writer when she was young.
Emily Dickinson's poetry was funny and trilling. This is what keeps the people on the edge wanting to read more.
The cast of Easy Reader - 2012 includes: Anne Bird Philip Oakland Chloe Singer Emily Wilden
The deathbed scene in "A Rose for Emily" was likely deleted by Faulkner to enhance the mystery and ambiguity surrounding Emily's character. This omission leaves the reader to speculate on the circumstances of Emily's death and adds to the overall intrigue of the story. Faulkner's choice to exclude this scene may have also been a deliberate narrative decision to focus the reader's attention on other significant aspects of the story.
Allegory is a literary device in which events, objects, and characters in a story represent some other idea or concept. There is allegory in the title of the story itself; the rose represents the South.
Because of the non-chronological storytelling of A Rose for Emily, a first-time reader is likely to miss the connection between the arsenic Emily purchased, the disappearance of Homer Barron, and the foul smell coming from her house.