Student Question
What is the significance of sidewalks in "A Rose for Emily"?
Quick answer:
In "A Rose for Emily," sidewalks symbolize both personal and communal progress. They facilitate Emily's meeting with Homer Barron, whose presence signifies change. Homer leaves after the sidewalks are completed, symbolizing his abandonment of Emily. Additionally, the sidewalks represent the town's modernization, contrasting with Emily's static existence, which embodies the unchanged, traditional values of the antebellum South.
Sidewalks have at least two significant meanings in William Faulkner's acclaimed short story, "A Rose for Emily." They provide her with a way of meeting her doomed beau, Homer Barron, who has come to Jefferson to supervise the construction of the town's new sidewalks. When the sidewalks are completed, Homer decides to abandon his new love for his next assignment--one, that we find later, he never begins. Sidewalks also serve as a symbol of progress for the town, which is slowly advancing into the 20th century in direct opposition to the character of Miss Emily, who serves as a reminder of the ante-bellum Deep South--forever unchanging.
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