Historical Element in “A Rose for Emily” In Faulkner's short story “A Rose for Emily” there are many historical elements throughout the story; Faulkner uses them to give an authentic feel to the story and to enrich the setting. A recurring theme I found was the reference to the reconstruction of the South after the Civil War. The Southern setting after their disappearance during the Civil War adds character to the story and characters. The attitudes of the people and the way they treated Emily with respect were an "Old South" tradition that is presented in this short story. The story takes place years after the Civil War; the main character is Emily, an aristocratic woman who has difficulties and problems throughout her life. Emily's family believed they were better than everyone else and he believed no man was good enough for his daughter. After her father's death, Emily began to rebel and do things she knew her father would not allow. She dates a Northern day laborer and kills him, so that he cannot leave her. Emily is very stubborn and believes she is better than others. The people of the town put up with Emily out of respect for her family and she got away with more than she should have. In the first paragraphs of the book Faulkner uses descriptions to add to the setting of the story and the people of the town. An obvious quote from the story is: "And now Miss Emily had gone to join the representatives of those august names where they lay in the cedar-confused cemetery among the graded and unmarked graves of the Union and Confederate soldiers fallen at the Battle of Jefferson." .”(Faulkner 91) This statement proclaims that the town where Emily lives was part of the Civil War; the people who live there were... means of paper... basically to portray what life was really like in those days. Most of its elements are true and contribute to the validity of the story and the personality of the characters contained in it. It offers its readers a glimpse into the world of Southern lifestyle in a given time period. Works Cited Beardsley, Frank. "American History: The American Civil War: Lincoln's Gettysburg Address (VOA Special English 2005-04-20)." Cool stuff for ESL/EFL (Fun English Study) students. www.manythings.org. Network. June 12, 2011. .Faulkner, William. "A rose for Emily." Bedford's introduction to literature: reading, thinking, writing. Ed. Michael Mayer. 9th ed. Boston: Bedford/St. Martins, 2008. 91-99. Print."Southern Black Codes." Network. June 12 2011. .