Working Outline

1. Introduction
1. Thesis Statement – Specifically, Miss Emily likely killed Homer because of her father’s history of keeping suitors at bay, her father’s death and the impact on Miss Emily, and finally she likely was trying to prohibit Homer from leaving as he had already left Miss Emily once before.
2. Unsuitable Suitors
1. None of the suitors met Miss Emily’s father’s approval.
2. This advanced and perhaps even conceited view of Miss Emily and the social status of the Grierson family forces Miss Emily to remain alone for quite some time without anyone in her life except for her father.
3. Her Father kept Miss Emily’s suitors away by using the horse whip whenever it was necessary.
4. These circumstances forced Miss Emily to be alone with no one to keep her company except for her father whom she became socially and psychologically dependent.
3. Emily’s Father’s Death
1. Emily had abandonment issues from her father’s death and would not allow his death to creep into her reality.
2. She intentionally told her visitors that her father was not dead for three days until eventually breaking down and allowing them to dispose of his body.
1. She was clearly afraid of being alone.
3. She was suffering from some form of psychological detachment disorder that Miss Emily could not overcome upon her father’s death (Nebeker 5).
4. Homer Left Miss Emily
1. Homer left her for a period of three days.
2. He likely left because he wanted Miss Emily to force the cousins to leave the home.
3. He also was not the “marrying type” and enjoyed drinking with other men, which made his faithfulness questionable.
4. Given her extreme attachment issues from the death of her father, Miss Emily would have wanted to keep Homer at her side for as long as possible.
5. Conclusion