The Conflict between the North and the South in A Rose for Emily

英语2101张媛媛

After the outbreak of the American Civil War, the new northern culture swept in. Emily, as the offspring of the declining aristocracy, was proud, defiant, stubborn, and even refused to accept the changes brought by time. She was undoubtedly the representative of the South. Barron, with northern characteristics, was tall, bold, social and energetic. Although there was a spark of love between Emily and Barron, and Emily loved Barron deeply, Emily, under the traditional southern aristocratic thought, was still full of disgust and resistance to northern culture in her heart, so when Barron indicated that he liked to communicate with males and had no intention of getting married, Emily chose to murder him to keep her lover. The conflict between the traditional civilization of the south and the modern civilization of the north is obvious, which also predicts tragic end of Emily's love.