Things Are Not Always What They Seem William Faulkner’s short story “A Rose for Emily” centers around Miss Emily and what the townspeople think of Miss Emily. One of the themes for “A Rose for Emily” is appearance versus reality. This theme of appearance versus reality can be seen through what the townspeople think of Miss Emily and by the actions taken by Miss Emily. Miss Emily was part of the old south, who …showed first 75 words of 438 total…

…showed last 75 words of 438 total…embrace and on the pillow beside him “a long stand of iron gray hair” was found. (77). This indicates to us that Miss Emily had been sleeping with the dead body of Homer Baron. One can now see that appearance versus reality can be a theme of Faulkner’s short story “A Rose for Emily.” Because of what the townspeople think is going on with Miss Emily and what actually is going on with Miss Emily.