- Story recounting the death of the main character Emily Grierson. Her funeral is held in her home- symbol of the last remnant of a lost era
- She refuses to pay taxes, has an affair with Homer Barron and society disaprooves - At the funeral, Homer's corpse is later found next to a strand of Emily's grey hair The American Dream: --Emily's dream differs from society's dream, she wants to live her life on her own terms and stay traditional - Society's dream reflects modernism more significantly, sheds a negative light on traditionalism - Death of Emily= staying traditional will not always last forever - Hiding of Homer's dead body suggests the desire for control due to loneliness - Emily's dreams are shaped by the current society she is living in that is becoming more advanced and industrialized |