Faulkner’s Rebellions

William Faulkner's short stories “Barn Burning” and “A Rose for Emily” are keys to understanding what Faulkner’s feelings about the confines of society. Both are stories of a person going against the traditional norms of society to ensure that they are comfortable in life. William Faulkner uses a similar theme in both "A Rose for Emily" as well as "Barn Burning" to portray the idea that rebelling against traditional ways may be the only way to become independent.
In “A Rose For Emily”, Emily goes against the tradition of a young marriage. In the late 1800's it was traditional to get married at a young age, while Emily stayed single throughout her entire life. Intimacy before marriage was not accepted by society either, but this did not stop Emily and her lover from living together. The townspeople described her situation as "...a disgrace to the town and a bad example to the young people" (30). Emily resisted the traditional ways of society to accommodate her own happin...