The use of flashbacks in William Faulkner's short story "A Rose for Emily" heightens the suspense and helps to the unexpected conclusion. Flashbacks are frequently used in the narrative, contributing to the gossipy tone of the plot. The narrator is a resident of the town where Emily Grierson has spent her whole life. As he tells the story, this narrator remembers events that occurred before his birth. These memories are triggered by seeing photographs or reading documents from when she was still alive and they often include conversations the two people had. Thus, the flashbacks provide information about Emily's character that wouldn't be apparent from just reading her letters or listening to her tell stories. Faulkner uses flashbacks to show how someone could have a terrible effect on your life even after they're dead. In this case, the narrator remembers how Emily terrorized him and his friends as a child because she was crazy. Even though she's been buried for ten years, there's still fear she might come back to get them. There are several other examples of this technique in "A Rose for Emily". When describing how pretty she was, for instance, the narrator says, "If I remembered what she looked like now, I wonder if she'd still look as beautiful as she did then." This statement is made through a flashback because recently the narrator saw a picture of her younger self and realized she was indeed very beautiful.