In William Faulkner's story, "A Rose for Emily", Faulkner uses symbolism as a literary element to keep the reader interested in his writing. There are many characters and materials that Faulkner placed throughout the story with hidden meaning. When he describes the presence of dust in a scene, the reader can skim through it without thinking much about it. The dust, however, contains an important message. Dust was present in Mrs. Emily's house throughout the story. Mrs. Emily spent most of her time at home. She used her home to withdraw from society and it was also where she died. That being said, dust is a recurring object throughout the story that symbolizes aging, reclusiveness, and death. When I think of dust, I think of old materials or places that haven't been used in a long time. In “A Rose for Emily,” Faulkner did a great job using dust as symbolism for aging. At the beginning of the story, Miss Emily's house was described as once beautiful: "It was a large square house which was once white, decorated with domes, spires and scrolled balconies in the very bright style of the 1960s. 70, located on what was once our choice street” (787). Although the house was once beautiful, over time the house ages and loses its beauty: “…But the garages and cotton gins had encroached and obliterated even the august names of this neighborhood; all that remained was Miss Emily's house, raising its stubborn, coquettish decadence above the cotton wagons and gas pumps – a horror among horrors” (787). Later, when the aldermen come to the house to receive Miss Emily's tax payment, they describe the old house from the inside: "It smelled of dust and neglect - a close, damp smell" (788). ...... middle of paper ...... Kner did this on purpose and made sure the dust was in the presence of death. In conclusion, dust was an important element throughout the story that had a secret symbolism behind it. As the town and neighborhood became more modern, Miss Emily's house remained unchanged and aged, standing out from the rest of the town. As Miss Emily withdrew from society, her house filled with dust. Dust was always present during the deaths. The reader must reread the story several times to realize how often dust appeared. After reading, the reader must dig deep and think about the true meaning of dust for each scene. I believe Faulkner did a great job using dust as symbolism in this story. Works Cited Faulkner, William. “A rose for Emily.” The Norton Practical Guide to Writing with Readings. 2nd ed. New York: Norton, 2010. 787-796. Print.