An antihero is a protagonist who is notably lacking heroic qualities and is the opposite of a conventional hero. While typical heroes are recognized for their strength, intelligence, charm, integrity, and bravery, antiheroes display both positive and negative character traits.
I would argue that Emily Grierson would not be defined as an antihero. Faulkner's protagonist is a mentally ill woman, who hails from an aristocratic family and has suffered under the oppressive rule of her father. Emily Grierson is more of a tortured soul whose actions are not motivated to prove a point or send a message. Her character symbolically represents the Old South and its difficulty transitioning to the post-Civil War environment. Emily Grierson is also not a tragic heroine because she lacks an inherent flaw. Emily's negative personality traits are a result of her mental illness and unfortunate life living with her domineering father. While there are tragic elements to Emily's life, she would not be considered a tragic heroine.
https://literarydevices.net/anti-hero/
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