When a tragic event occurs to an individual causing social standing and reputation to dissipate, denial and pride can appear. In the short story "A Rose for Emily", William Faulkner illustrates the condemnatory town of Jefferson in which the grief stricken and confused Emily Grierson resides. In this story Miss Emily loses a loved one which causes irrational actions causing surrounding people to judge and also pity. The significance in the loss of social standing and reputation can ignite actions of denial, pride, and pity. In the short story the loss of social standing and reputation ignite the act of denial. Upon the loss of her father Miss Emily lost all track of time becoming frozen in the moment, causing her to be in denial of moving on. In response to being asked about the death of her father "she told them that her father was not dead"(Beers and Odell 724). Miss Emily also alters her appearance in which " her hair was cut short making her look like a girl" (Beers and Odell 724). This sudden change in style resembles Emily's mindset that time…show more content… In response to the actions of the old generation Miss Emily begins to feel as if she is above the law which in turn helps further develop her growing sense of pride. After her father died, " it was as if she demanded more than ever the recognition of her dignity as the last Grierson" which goes on to explain that Miss Emily wants to be respected just as she was by the older generation (Beers and Odell 724).When Emily is refusing to pay her taxes Birk goes on to agree that " Emily repetitively sounds a stubborn refrain to her municipal pursuers"(204). which is further exhibiting her built up sense of pride. Miss Emily is believed to be on a pedestal and Birk also agrees that the townsfolk try to " tempt miss Grierson off of her perch" (205). In response to Miss Emily's sense of pride, the townspeople begin to develop pity for