Symbolism in literature is using an object to portray a different, deeper meaning in a story. The symbols represent ideas or qualities that the author has placed in his story that have meaning. There can be multiple symbols in a story or just one. It is up to the reader to interpret the meaning of the symbols and their significance for the story. When reading a story, the symbols may not become clear until the end, once the climax is over and the falling action is covered. In “A Rose for Emily” by William Faulkner there are multiple examples of symbolism that recur throughout the story. The symbolism shown in “A Rose for Emily” is Miss Emily's taxes representing death. The first is the death of his father. The taxes are a symbol of the financial forgiveness her father experiences, but which he keeps hidden from Miss Emily and the town. Thirty years later, after Miss Emily's initial drop in taxes, the new generation attempts to renege on the agreement of the past. In the new generation, taxes now symbolize the death of Homer Barron. Although taxes are a thing of the past, Miss Emily makes an effort to keep them in the present. Homer Barron is her new man in the present, and his death symbolizes the taxes she insists she doesn't have to pay (Shmoop 3). The lock of gray hair found on the pillow next to Homer Barron's body is the next symbol. The lost love represented by the lock of hair is a perverse action by Miss Emily. The hair represents Miss Emily's determination to live as she wants while ignoring everyone's approval. His eccentric actions prove that he lives by his own moral code, that whatever it takes to be happy is welcome, even if it involves murder. “What was left of him, rotted under that… middle of paper… meaning. One of the meanings is the sympathy that Miss Emily deserves. The other meaning is the meaning of love that Miss Emily desires so much. Miss Emily is seen as a symbol herself because she represents the dying old South. The most important symbol of all is the house. The Grierson house holds many different meanings. The house symbolizes the dying old South, the power of death, and ultimately, Miss Emily. Works Cited “A Rose for Emily.” SparkNote. SparkNotes and Web. 09 February 2014. Faulkner, William. “A rose for Emily.” Literature: An introduction to fiction, poetry, drama, and writing. Ed. XJ Kennedy and Dana Gioia. 12th ed. New York: Pearson, 2013. 32-37 Print.Shmoop Editorial Team. "Death and Taxes in A Rose for Emily." Shmoop University, Inc., 11 Nov. 28. 2008. Web. 09 Feb. 2014. “Symbolism in “A Rose for Emily.” "" Np, nd Web. 09 February 2014.