Faulkner Quote Response Exercise

 “A few of the ladies had the temerity to call, but were not received, and the only sign of life about the place was the negro man—a young man then—going in and out with the market basket.”  Faulkner, p. 30 

Throughout the story, we read of the coming and going of Emily’s servant.  It seems to be the constant in the story.  He seems to be a stabilizing life force.  An example of life going on day to day.   For all intents and purposes, Emily isn’t really alive.  Being an unmarried woman she is looked upon as a non-person.  The only thing gives her any status or life is the fact that she is from the upper classes.  She has no rhyme, nor reason to her days.  What is interesting to me is that the servant seems to be the only person living in the house.  Emily occupies it, but by being shut away doesn’t seem to really live.  By doing the daily tasks, the servant brings needed life and movement to the house. 

“The Negro met the first of the ladies at the front door and let them in, with their hushed, sibilant voices and their quick, curious glances, and then he disappeared.  He walked right through the house and out the back and was not seen again.”  Faulkner, p. 34.

I find it particularly interesting that once Emily dies he does his last act of service, letting the ladies in and then, like a spirit or soul, leaves the house never to be seen again.  The symbolism of the servant as the soul leaving the body, or the house, is particularly moving.  He was the animating force of the house, not the owner who simply existed.