elationship with Homer. The next Sunday theyagain drove about the streets, [. . . ] (pg.86) Having been rebuked, the ministers wifeenlists the aid of Emilys cousins to pressure Emily back into the role they feel she shouldplay. They do arrive at which time Emily buys poison. The towns people feel placadidafter Emily buys the arsenic. So the next day we all said, She will kill herself, andwe said it would be the best thing. (pg.85) The towns people it seems would have Emilyplay by their rules as have been defined by tradition and duty or commit suicide. Emily at first tries to break away from the defined role after her father dies byestablishing a relationship with Homer Barron. When she sees how the community reactsshe is torn between maintaining her stature and connecting to man in a relationship. Thisconflict ultimately leads her to madness. She buys the arsenic not to kill herself but tokill Homer Barron. However, she cannot bear to relinquish their relationship and sokeeps his corpse in her bed where she has murdered him. Her denial for death which isforeshadowed in her fathers comes into play here as she is able to play her societal rolewhile keeping her sweetheart forever in her bed.As you can see because of her father, her social stature, and the town she wasdriven to insanity. Without all of these variables Emily might have been able to lead anormal life. Living up to others expectations is not an easy thing to do. We can all learna lesson from Emily, living up to others expectations is not as important than thehappiness of our own....
