In Faulkner's "A Rose for Emily," I do not believe that
Faulkner addresses race with a sense of bigotry. His is the voice (told through the
unidentified townsperson) that recognizes "traditional" attitudes in the South—though
not overtly focused on racial issues: more than this, we see the
vestiges of racism as through a window clouded with
age.
Tobe is the only black member of the community the
reader is introduced to with any detail—working for Miss Emily. Toby is first referred
to as an "old man servant" and the only person Miss Emily has allowed in her home for
ages, showing her complete trust in, and dependence on, him—especially in light of the
story's conclusion.
We may see "class struggle" when the
narrator refers to 1894, when Colonel Sartoris...
"...fathered an edict that no Negro woman should
appear on the streets without an
apron."
(This is a shadow of
the slavery era still present in town.) Oppression of blacks is seen in that they are
treated as lower class citizens (aprons limited only to women of color)
.
When the men visit Miss Emily to collect taxes, Tobe is
referred to three times. He was old then, but nothing derogatory is said about him or
their reaction to him: they are admitted by "the [old] Negro" and he shows them
out. That Miss Emily is in charge, there is no doubt. When she calls Tobe, he appears
and complies.
Years before, when the smell appeared to be
coming from the house, the women who came to call were not admitted, by the then "young"
Tobe; he showed them the door with the utmost respect. The women believe Emily foolish
for allowing Tobe to care for her home.
The men use the
"n---" word in the story, but it is not used with arrogance or malice, but more as habit
(which does not make it less offensive, just indicates old habits and
oblivious sensibilities). Faulkner, I believe, is still just
describing life in the South here.
We read of Miss Emily's
loss of her father, her relationship with Homer Baron, and the arrival and departure of
Miss Emily's "relations." Homer has left, but he is seen being admitted into the house
one night by Tobe, never to be seen again. Life in town changes as the years go by. Miss
Emily stays in, and an aging Tobe runs errands. Eventually, she
becomes a recluse.
Tobe's presence is a constant in the
story. He serves Miss Emily until her death. He is her connection to the outside world.
He "protects" her from unwelcome visitors, and is very
loyal.
...we
had long since given up trying to get any information from the Negro. He talked to no
one, probably not even to her, for his voice had grown harsh and rusty, as if from
disuse.
On the day Emily
dies, "the Negro" greets the first of the female callers at the
door...
...and
then he disappeared. He walked right through the house and out the back and was not seen
again.
Of all of the
information we learn about Tobe, that which most clearly defines oppression and class
struggle is his disappearance. We discover—with the fascination of a true horror
story—that Emily has murdered Homer Baron. And while she is beyond the law (being dead),
Tobe is not. He knew what had happened, but even in a place of
service would probably never have been forgiven by the community for
any part he played—even if only with his
silence—in the death of a white man. This part of the story is where we see
that the old ways of the South have not changed enough to protect
Tobe, so he disappears when the murder is discovered.
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