何处寻玫瑰——基于《献给艾米丽的玫瑰》中的人物冲突解析玫瑰花的象征意义

Where Is the Rose——An Interpretation of the Symbolic Meanings of the Rose Based on Character Conflicts in“A Rose for Emily”

《献给艾米丽的玫瑰》是美国作家威廉·福克纳最具代表性的短篇小说之一。小说以南北战争后的南方小镇为背景,围绕南方没落贵族小姐艾米丽的一生展开叙述,但作品中对标题中的“玫瑰”却只字未提。通过对艾米丽与父亲的冲突,与爱人的冲突,与乡民们的冲突,我们可以看出玫瑰花代表的是艾米丽一生中所缺失的种种美好,即亲密的家庭关系,甜蜜的爱情,和谐的社会关系。

“A Rose for Emily”is the most representative short story written by William Faulkner.Set in the south after the Civil War,the story depicts the life of Emily,a lady of the old nobility.Though“a rose”is mentioned in the title,there is no description of any rose in the story.Based on Emily’s conflicts with her father,with her lover,and with the town’s people,we can easily draw the conclusion that“a rose”symbolizes all good things that are missing in Emily’s life:close family relationship with her father,sweet love with Homer,and harmonious social relationship with the town’s people.