Interpretation of The Abnormal Character Emily In A Rose for Emily

刘禹彤

【Abstract】Faulkner is one of the modern American novelists who have gained a worldwide reputation as one of the best story-tellers in America or even the world.He depicts the feelings：insanity，split，distortion，grotesque，and the secret unplumbed depths of the soul.The art of abnormal psychology carries the appeal of cultural reflection and free life.In the process of creating the abnormal character，Faulkner conveys his criticism and reflection of the essence of culture.He strengthens the human consciousness by self-examination through the reality of art.

【Key Words】abnormal psychology； personality disorder； distorted human nature

PART 1 The Humanistic Definition of Abnormal Psychology

Abnormal psychology defined from the perspective of the humanities is an important aspect of the comprehensive and objective understanding of the phenomenon of mental alienation.The literature and art of abnormal psychology combine to form the core of the argument that by virtue of art wisdom，the intensive humanistic care builds the emotional area that is special and difficult to be penetrated and exhausted，by means of the imagination of literature and art to perform the conflict between life liberty and perception imbalance and to meet human psychology of self-entertainment and self-sufficiency；

Abnormal psychology rises to become writers creative motive and the special object of emotional expression，enriched by human insights and transcending cultural and regional boundaries.

PART 2 The Manifestations and Causes of Emilys Abnormal Psychology

Emilys pity and sad life is not because of lack of marriage but because of her lack of social support.Social support refers to the spiritual and material relations on all aspects between individual and society，including the respected，supported and understood extent in society.When individuals lack social support and understanding，they will feel frustrated and start to evade the outside world.As a result of the long-term lack of communication or refusal to exchange with the outside world，the innermost feelings of the individuals cannot be divulged，so that results in serious psychological abnormalities，and personality of alienation.To obey the severe family rules and maintain image “of the Southern aristocratic lady，” Emily is not likely to make friends.Because of the conflict on the property rights，she lost the contact with the only relatives from then on.In the town，people viewed Emilys love as “humiliation” or “degeneration”，they obstruct that together in every possibly way.Emily does not have a supporter.Lacking social support for long time，she has been totally despaired and used to self-enclosed life.In torment，she has even painfully forgotten the outside world where she has never felt.Finally after Barron abandoned her，Emily collapsed and made the incredible，twisted and distorted crazy action to “defend” her love.

Suppressed for a long time，Emilys life desire missed all the proper social support，attention，and friendly affection，friendliness.She had extreme physical and psychological metamorphosis.Such abnormal behavior has evolved into a kind of unlimited madness.

Conclusion

As the artistic symbol，abnormal psychology with humanistic care has become a special aesthetic object.With certain spiritual and cultural value，it is deeply connected with the literary creation.We also can explore the social and cultural roots of the literary works by interpreting the distorted psychology and abnormal behavior which is usually unacceptable.

In A Rose for Emily，through the description of Emilys abnormal psychology and distorted behavior，Faulkner explored the inner reality of character from the human subconsciousness and unconsciousness in depth，especially twisted soul between the cracks of the tradition and reality，sex and emotion.Through his special characters so that readers can see the personality disorders，distorted human nature and other characteristics of metamorphosis that society is unconscious.That displays the role that abnormal psychology forms on the text，explaining the strange soul and human nature under the conflicts between the times and traditions，culture and society at that time，and also enables the unprecedented expansion of literary aesthetic vision.

Reference：

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[2]古峰.变态心理学[M].南京大学出版社，2005.

[3]赖赛宁.纪念爱米丽的一朵玫瑰花的深层内蕴解读[J].南昌大学学报，1999.

[4]William Faulkner，A Rose for Emily，Foreign Language Press，2003.