How “A Rose for Emily” is narrated?

Question 1

The narrator’s lack of chronological creates an attitude of pity and condescension for Emily’s seemingly lonely life. However, rearranging the order chronologically changes the reader’s attitude to that of contempt and opprobrium because midway through the narration we find out that Emily used the arsenic poison to murder her suitor Homer Barron, after which she slept with the corpse on the same bed for over forty years. “For a long while, we just stood there, looking down at the profound and fleshless grin. The body had apparently once lain in the attitude of an embrace, but now the long sleep that outlasts love, that conquers even the grimace of love, had cuckolded him.” Pg 9. The link of the poison, odor around Emily’s house and Homer’s disappearance with the murder and necrophilia is not realized early in the narrator’s time shifts. 

Question 2

The narrator chose to use the first-person plural probably to conceal his/her identity and relationship with Emily. By taking the town’s collective stance, the author also brings out the idea that what happened in Emily’s life was not so secret after all. Also, the town’s collective voice attributes that the town’s people shared the same beliefs and ideas especially in matters pertaining to age and marriage, fitting into Emily’s description of “tradition, a duty, and a care; a sort of hereditary obligation upon the town.” “So when she got to be thirty and was still single, we were not pleased exactly, but vindicated; even with insanity in the family she wouldn't have turned down all of her chances if they had really materialized.” Pg 4. 

Question 3

It appears that Montresor was a humane and benign person whose action of murdering Fortunato was only driven by Fortunato's numerous misdeeds against him. On multiple accounts, the narrator had ‘forgiven’ Fortunato for hurting him, until he thought that the later had exceeded the limit and needed to pay for his wrongdoing. “Fortunato had hurt me a thousand times, and I suffered quietly.” Pg. 1. If there had been a better course of action to take against Fortunato, an action which would have made Fortunato pay fully, the narrator would have taken it. However, there seemed to be no better revenge than the death of Fortunato which would vindicate him from the hurt and suffering he had experienced. Suffice to say, the narrator’s hand in the murder was forced. He was remorseful for his actions, but what was done had to be done. 

Question 4

The narrator in “The Tell-Tale Heart” was driven by paranoia for the old man’s blue eyes to murder the old man. “When the old man looked at me with his vulture eye a cold feeling went up and down my back; even my blood became cold. And so, I finally decided I had to kill the old man and close that eye forever!” Pg 2 This paranoia was compounded by mental retardation which is and is further manifested when he the purportedly hears a low thumping sound which he believes is the old man’s heart. It is common knowledge that a mad person would dispute claims that they are insane. The narrator’s reporting cannot be trusted because he even asserts that he can hear sound from as far as heaven and hell. “I heard sounds from heaven, and I heard sounds from hell!” Pg. 1. The narrator’s motive in “The Cask of Amontillado” was driven by revenge and anger. “I promised myself that I would make him pay for this – that I would have revenge.” The narrator's report can be trusted because he was in sound mind, and even showed remorse for his actions. 

Question 5

Emily’s involvement with Homer stirred a mixture of disapproval and backlash from the town’s people who perceived it as disregard for her family pride and stature. Homer was a Northerner and as far as the Southerners were concerned, did not deserve to be Emily’s suitor. “And as soon as the old people said, "Poor Emily," the whispering began. "Do you suppose it's really so?" they said to one another. "Of course it is. What else could . . ." Pg. 5. Emily later murdered Homer using the poison she bought at the store. "I want arsenic." Pg. 6. This further depicts the chasm between the Northerners and the Southerners, in that they could hardly coexist harmoniously.