What an appropriate short story for Halloween! Murder, poison, and much more.
Anyways, the excerpt above refers to the Negro servant of Miss Emily. This man seems to just work behind the scenes; however, his silent actions play a big role into the story. He is really the only visible evidence of Miss Emily's life to the outside community who is constantly watching. If the servant still is running to the market, Miss Emily must still be alive. This quote is an example of a paradox. Usually, a person's voice grows harsh and rusty from constant use or screaming. However, in this short story, the servant never speaks a word; therefore, it is said that his voice is lost due to disuse. This statement seems impossible, but metaphorically, it makes sense. The servant's lack of speaking out caused a man to die. He saw everything that occurred in Miss Emily's household, and he had the power to speak out. Because of his lack crying for help, he was so stunned that he could not speak anymore. The misuse of voice caused his speaking to flee. My guess is that he was not able to speak his mind due to his position in the household. Because Emily was rich, she had a lot more power then a lowly servant; therefore, it would be difficult for the man to step up and say something about the situation. Also, Miss Emily was probably mentally insane. Usually, keeping a dead body for a long period of time is not something a stable person would do.
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