A Rose for Emily

This story is a bit odd. I shall answer question 5: What are the advantages of first-person plural point of view in this story? What would be lost if it were told in first-person singular, by one of the townspeople or in third-person limited point of view. First-person plural (or "we") is certainly an odd point of view that one does not see often. The effect here is to show Emily as a bit of a legend. The entire town is talking about her, not just a single person. If only one person told the story, then it would lose this effect of seeming like her very presence effected the entire town. Similarly, if the point of view was from Emily's perspective, either third or first person, then the focus of the story would be primarily on what she does, the actual acts she commits, rather than how it is here where the focus is mostly on her reasoning for her actions. We would lose this sense with any other point of view, but because we see this through the eyes of the townspeople, we are able to get that "legendary" sense while also seeing her reasons.

This rose is for Emily. She received no other roses in the story.