The Gothic Style Of A Rose To Emily

William Faulkner as a representative of American southern literature wrote many well-known novels. His novels embody a noticeable Gothic style. His short novel A Rose to Emily has become the topic for scholars, which is rare to a short piece of writing. Gothic novels can find their origin in the 18th century. Gothic novels were horrifying and mysterious and had become the writing style which was popular among many writers. Gothic novels were more prosperous in America than in England in the 20th century. Due to the unique historical and cultural background, American southern Gothic novels became famous in world literature.Born in a declined aristocrat family, Faulkner had a strong love for the old south. As a native son of the south, he had written many novels with his hometown as the background. However, Faulkner himself was not a radical, because his love for the south was woven with despair. He couldn't remain oblivious to the damage modern society made to the traditions. He had to admit that the old south had gone with the wind and the once precious traditional ideology had become the shackles to human nature.A Rose to Emily has shown both his reminiscence for the old south and criticism to the southern traditions. The Gothic techniques used in the novel not only enhance its attractiveness but also deepen the themes. This paper discusses the Gothic writing style of A Rose to Emily from four perspectives.Death is the typical story of Gothic novels since man's biggest horror is death. Apart from making up a horrifying story, death indicates the writer's viewpoint of history and time. The death of Emily's father indicates the end to the prosperity of American south. Emily poisoning Barren indicates the strong conflicts between the south and the north. Emily's death indicates the end to the old southern social system after a desperate struggle. Meanwhile, the death of Emily's father indicates the finish of the pleasant past. Barren symbolizes the uncertain present. In order to hold on to the past, Emily refused to bury his father and murdered Barren. But man can never shake off the shackles of time. Emily's death also took away her pleasant past.Grotesque characters constitute another important feature of Gothic novels. Emily had been shut in all her life and it had been impossible for her to coexist with reality. As a result, she became a ghost wandering between reality and illusion. Her suffering reflects the common mentality of the post-war southerners who found the reality hard to accept. The Negro servant Toby's silence is a kind of hidden line. It reflects American black's lack of self-value and independent personalities. Toby is also the reflection of Emily who was unable to face the reality just like him. Toby also became her partner for he is in favor of her weird actions.Faulkner indicated in the story that Emily had serious Electra complex. For the lack of mother's love and her father's overall control on her, Emily's process of socialization was suspended, so she had no choice but relying on her father completely. Her love for the dead bodies in the novel showed her Electra complex obviously and she also wanted to make Barren her father's substitute. She poisoned Barren because she didn't want to lose him. Electra complex is also found in the other novels of Faulkner. Electra complex is actually the common complex of the women under control of men's power in his novels.Death itself cannot make a Gothic novel and the mysterious and horrifying atmosphere is indispensable. That's because indications of the atmosphere can trigger imagination in the readers and thus enhance the senses of horror and mystery. The writer successfully created the atmosphere by scene description and reader involvement. The inside of Emily's room, her terrible appearance and the dead body make horrifying scenes. Jumbled time sequence, false impressions and on-looker's narration make constant reader involvement.Faulkner's novel A rose to Emily has become a forever-excellent piece of work.. Gothic styles have never been out of date because man has the nature of being obsessed with mysteries. But only techniques can not make renowned works. Concerns about human soul are more important than clever tricks. On the tip of Faulkner's pen flow"true feelings, love, honor, sympathy, pride, compassion and sacrifice."His emotions, insights and skills earned him Nobel Prize and his name is inscribed in the milestone of world literature.