The short story "A Rose for Emily" written by William Faulkner, takes place in a small Southern town named Jefferson. The story begins at the funeral of the story's main character, Miss Emily Grierson, and later continues with the past. The death of his father had a strong impact on his life. Eventually, she finds hope when Homer Barron, a Yankee, enters her life. The protagonist Emily, who symbolizes the past, is in conflict with the present. Miss Emily was the only daughter of her father, who died and left her a house with no money. Before his father's death, Colonel Sartoris gave him his taxes. The “next generation” (Faulkner 730), of mayors and aldermen, decided that Miss Emily should also pay property taxes like everyone else. Miss Emily thought otherwise; they tried to contact Miss Emily but she was so stubborn she didn't respond. After no response, a deputation visited Miss Emily at her home. After the death of her father, Miss Emily begins to isolate herself from the city and does not leave her home. Miss Emily had no company for ten years until the Board of Aldermen visited her. His house begins to fall into disrepair and emits a strong odor that “smells of dust and neglect – a close, damp smell” (731). The judge received several complaints about the massive odor coming from Miss Emily's home. So of course he decided to do something. The judge sent four men on a mission to eliminate the smell. The story goes that “they broke down the cellar door and spread lime there, as well as in all the outbuildings” (732). Everyone began to worry that Miss Emily was wondering if she needed help, but the doctors, on the other hand, wanted to dispose of her father's body. After collapsing, she agreed... middle of paper...... she has company except for her servant who has been there with her all this time. Miss Emily let her past conflict with her present by keeping her deceased father's body in a room in her house. By keeping the body of the deceased, it causes a major controversy which begins to spread throughout the city. The smell was so strong that the townspeople had to crawl around trying to understand the smell. The smell also had a great impact on Miss Emily's health. The massive smell makes Miss Emily sick repeatedly as she sits and breathes in the smell. The conflict between past and present over time caused her to die by not being able to go out and feel her spirit that she was stuck in the house with a horrible smell. Works Cited Faulkner, William. “A rose for Emily.” The Norton Introduction to Literature. 11th ed. Ed. Kelly J Mays. New York: Norton, 2013. 730-736. Print