In “A Rose for Emily,” William Faulkner uses imagery and symbolism to illustrate and reinforce the most prevalent theme; Emily's resistance to change. William Faulkner seems to reveal this theme through multiple descriptions of Miss Grierson's actions, appearance, and her home. Throughout the novella it is evident that Emily is having difficulty letting go of her past, she seems to cling to every bit of her past. Readers see this in several ways, some more obvious than others. William Faulkner uses imagery to depict Miss Grierson's confrontation with change by vividly describing her appearance. With the description given of Emily, readers might conclude that she symbolizes her inability to change. He describes Emily's physical appearance by stating that her clothes are worn and deteriorating, just as her outlook on life seems to be as well. Her appearance perhaps also symbolizes Miss Grierson's refusal to be modern as she constantly lives in her past. Some may say this because the first description readers see of her is "...a short, fat woman in black., ...