" A Rose For Emily"

                If “ A Rose for Emily” were written in a different point of view, then many aspects of the story would change.  For example, if the point of view were told from the perspective of Tobe, the servant for Emily, then the story would focus more on Ms. Emily’s life rather then opinions of what the town people believed her life to be.    A first person singular point of view from Tobe would expand the reader’s knowledge towards the mysterious life of Emily. The reader would have a better understanding of certain events in Emily’s life such as her connections with Colonel Sartoris or why she killed Homer. The change to a singular point of view would also change the structure of the story. Instead of the reader having to figure out and interpret the story like a mystery, the ending would be expected.  However, the point of view of Tobe could also create a storyline similar to the original.  Tobe, like the rest of the town’s citizens, may have been just as uninformed and curious as to who Emily really is. He may simply be a worker, whose feelings may be just as ambiguous towards Emily as others in the town. 

It is also possible that Tobe’s point of view may simply have just told the reader about his own personal struggles of being an African American during the Old South.  The story would follow his life and Emily’s ordeals may just be a small part of it. The shift in point of view would also create some minor changes to the story. Tobe, being an African American living in the South during a time where racism was evident, wouldn’t use the same slang and derogative terms that the white citizens of the town did. Tobe’s perspective of the white citizens of the town would also impact the storyline.  The poems themes may of shifted towards different ones such as racism or hate.