Pondering the question of Miss Emily being a symbol of the old south one may conclude in some aspects she was. For instance it's very apparent in the story how much influance a male figure who happens to be her father has over her life, mainly concerning "all the young men her farther had drivin away" It is possible that Emily truly admired some of the young men, but due to the fact it was considerd improper at that time to disagree with a man her hands were tied. It was common pratice for a husband or father to be in charge of making desicions for the women and it was not considerd an act of oppression thats just the way things were at the time.
On the other hand Emily was somewhat of a paradox concerning the virtuous southern women. Emily's periodic interactions with other men was contracdictory to the image of the traditional southern belle, for example when representatives of the aldermen came calling she was not at all hospitable or respectful, this certaintly was not a symbol of southern womenhood. upon them entering to her home she did not offer a seat to them. And when the authorities politely inquried about her back taxes stating "Miss Emily. Didn't you get a notice from the sheriff signed by him?" Emily curtly replied "I received a paper yes perhaps he considers himself the sheriff I have no taxes in Jefferson". Also there is the matter of the scandalous affair she carried on with a laborer without the benifit of marriage, this was considered taboo behavior. Emily did what she felt without really caring what people thought of her.In Essence Emily was a victim of traditional southern values for one she was never allowed the luxury of choosing her own mate and she was forced to let her father make important decisions for her that directly effected her existance.
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