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Mr. Grierson is Emily Grierson's father. He is an emblem of traditional patriarchy and strictly governs Emily's life. He is intensely controlling, domineering, and overprotective. The narrator pinpoints their unbalanced power dynamic early on, explaining that the town "had long thought of [Emily and Mr. Grierson] as a tableau, Miss Emily a slender figure in white in the background, her father a spraddled silhouette in the foreground, his back to her and clutching a horsewhip." Here, the image of the horsewhip insinuates that Mr. Grierson acts as Emily's owner. He maintains dominant authority over Emily, restricting her autonomy and imposing his will on her life. With Mr. Grierson at the forefront of the tableau, and Emily positioned behind him, readers can begin to understand the Old South's patriarchal structure. Men, particularly fathers and husbands, exercise power over their daughters and wives, stripping them of their self-determination and controlling their lives.
Emily's intense isolation can be traced back to Mr. Grierson, who prevented her from ever marrying or forging meaningful connections with others. Her father's death leaves her further isolated, severing her from her one human connection. Mr. Grierson looms over Emily even in death. Symbolized by the "crayon portrait of Miss Emily’s father" that remains by the fireplace, Emily cannot accept her father's death, fixating on it long after he is gone and therefore furthering his complete control over her life.
Mr. Grierson's death also affects how the town sees Emily. Her refusal to accept his death paints her as mentally unstable, contributing to her otherness. However, his death also humanizes Emily in the eyes of the town, and residents of Jefferson are moved to pity, acknowledging that "with nothing left, she would have to cling to that which had robbed her, as people will."
