In William Faulkner's "A Rose for Emily," Emily becomes a woman with many several untold secrets. Emily is portrayed as a woman who kept to herself throughout her life. However when she dies not everything dies with her and all her secrets are revealed. She poisoned her lover and stored him in a room where she laid beside him supposedly due to the indent in the pillow. She had a Negro manservant throughout her whole life that went to the market, cooked and gardened for her. During the end of her life the manservants visits were the only way that the townspeople knew that she was still alive. The Negro male servant that is said to have possibly been aware about what was going on in her life behind closed doors. Although it has not been formally proven it is a mystery within everyones mind. The question of whether Tobe, the Negro servant, knew about what happened to Homer Barrons an unknown question. This question remains in the minds of many who have read this story A Rose for Emily.
My argument is that Tobe did know but did not inform the authorities. I strongly believe this because it is said in the story that a neighbor saw the Negro man admit him at the kitchen door at dusk one evening. And that was the last we saw of Homer Barron.(Henderson, Day, Waller 612). That quote to me clearly defines my argument. If Tobe was the one to allow him to enter the home it not even is a question that he would escort him out. So for Mr. Barron to be in the house for such a length of time it is with my belief that Tobe knew. Another thing is that if he was indeed her servant, he must have had to assist her with things. I cant see her being able to complete this mission on her own. Although it is above all possible she never left her home she had to have an accomplice in this crime.
The second quote that verified my argument is The Negro man went in and out with the market basket, but the front door remained closed. (Henderson, Day, Waller 612) this expresses how Tobe was being secretive and extra careful within all his actions. If he was not hiding anything then, my question is why was he so careful with his every move. If the town noticed the abnormal scent surrounding Emilys home, how come he showed no acknowledgement towards the smell. If a whole town can notice an abnormal smell why didnt it seem suspenseful to him for him to do something about enough. Tobe did some more suspicious as well towards the end of the story.
The third quote that really caught my attention and advocated my beliefs as well appears near the ending. Towards the end of the story when the truth is about to be revealed because the death of Emily has occurred. The Negro met the first of the ladies at the front door and let them in, with their hushed, sibilant voices and their quick curious glances, and then disappeared. He walked right through the house and out the back and was not seen again. (Henderson, Day, Waller 613) This clarifies that he knew what was about to take place. There is no other logical meaning in my opinion as to why he would just take off like that. I feel as though Tobe took off like that because he had something to hide from the town regarding Emilys actions. I also feel like he did not want to be present to answer any questions that some people may have had because he was indeed guilty in my opinion.
This story has a quite a bit of a twist to it and the way it turned out to be is strikingly insane. I do not judge the character for her actions but I do judge the father for his actions. I feel as though it was his fault that she was led to madness to go on and kill the man. However, to my conclusion my argument supports that the Negro servant Tobe had an idea what Mrs. Rose was up to. I even believe that there is a possibility that he assisted her in killing the man. I also believed that he might have held it from authorities, because he may have been scared for himself and the things he might have had to encounter.
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