Decompose for Emily

The point of view from which William Faulkner's A Rose for Emily is told affects the reader's ability to determine what realy trasnpires. The story is told from a first person plural point of view. Through analysis of the events that are recounted in the story, such as Emily's encounter with the town authorities about her payment of taxes (Jackson, 283), we can assume that the narrators are the residents of the town. The residents seem to be piecing the story together from the town gossip because the story is not told chronologically. For instance, the second section of the short story refers to a stark smell. After finishing the story, the reader can assume this was the decomposition of Homer's body; however, "the smell" is referred to before the reader even meets Homer (Jackson, 283). Thus, concluding that the story this told on the basis of gossip, the reader must be aware that his conlusions about the outcome depend on the trust he places in the validity of the events recounted. On the other hand, interesting would be reading the story from the point of view of the Negro servant. Because he was present with Emily throughout the entire story, the reader would know that the information would be factual and accurate. I am also curious to know how much he knew or was aware of the death of Homer and Emily's possible role in that. However, from the point of view of the town residents, the reader will never know.