A Rose for Emily' is divided into five parts. Part one opens at the time of protagonist Emily Grierson's death. A protagonist is the main character in a story. The entire community attends Emily's funeral, but as the narrator suggests, no one really knew Emily. The narrator is the person telling any given story. In this case, the narrator is unnamed and assumed to be one of the townspeople. As the narrator tells the reader, no one really knew Emily. Emily rarely went out, had never been married, and died alone at age 74. Her entire existence was a puzzle for the townspeople to piece together.