"A Rose For Emily"
...pted charity and that she had the means to pay for the taxes. This makes the reader wonder why she is doing it. My belief is the fact that Emily Grierson likes things the way she wants them and that's then end of it. The not paying the taxes rule applied only to her father who is now dead. She should have to pay for hers, but she won't. It seems that Emily doesn't like to admit to a person as being dead. Even when the authorities tell her that she must pay her taxes, she replies, "I have no taxes in Jefferson, see Colonel Sartoris,"(pg. 145). Colonel Sartoris has been dead for 10 years. Emily refuses to allow her father's body to be taken from the house because she could not let go of him. Ladies from the town came to Emily's door and offered to help take care of the body and Emily replies, "My father is not dead,"(pg. 146). Nobody in the story thought that she was crazy, but I'll bet a lot of the readers who have read this story begged to differ. She even had slept with the body as if it were still alive. Emily may have a problem, but it's not the problem of insanity or even that of just being a "rebel." The woman will not accept loss. Everything must remain the same in her world and that's just the way it is. She will not reason with anyone. Lastly and most importantly, Emily murders a man named Homer who she dearly loves. However Emily's murder of Homer underscores her inability to be without him. The story describes Homer as not being a "marrying" man. Emily will not accept this and if she can't have him to herself ...