Home > A Rose for Emily Summary & Study Guide > A Rose for Emily Group > Discussion Board

Who is someone famous or well-known that high school aged students could relate Miss Emily's characteristics and behavior to?

When I imagine Emily Grierson, I think of Renee Zellwegger, the blonde actress who is from Texas and has a distinct southern twang to her voice.  She has a soulful face and has expertly played roles in other films that depict a woman who is denied love and happiness in life, especially by her parents. 

The film that I am referring to is Miss Potter, where she portrays Beatrix Potter, the children's author who was secretly engaged to her publisher and prevented from marrying him by her class conscious parents.  By the time they gave their approval, her fiance died from pneumonia, during the 19th century.

I see Renee Zellwegger as Emily, a respectful daughter neglected and allowed to grow into an old maid, who finds a man, finally, after her father is dead and is betrayed by the fact that he prefers men.  I can easily see RZ poisoning Homer Barron, who should be played by Hugh Grant.

Katherine Hepburn would've been PERFECT!!!

Rue McClanaghan, the lady who played "Blanche" in the Golden Girls would be fantastic. She already has that Southern typecast voice and style, plus she is amazing in both comedy and drama.  She represents greatly that "dignified old south" lift of the chin that comes to mind when one pictures Rose walking down the streets.