Perpetuity-
1. the state or character of being perpetual (often preceded by in): to desire happiness in perpetuity.
2. endless or indefinitely long duration or existence; eternity.
3. something that is perpetual.
pg. 90
"Alive, Miss Emily had been a tradition, a duty, and a care; a sort of hereditary obligation upon the town, dating from that day in 1894 when Colonel Sartoris, the mayor--he who fathered the edict that no Negro women should appear on the streets without an apron--remitted her taxes, the dispensation dating from the death of her father on into perpetuity."
Using the second definition I found, I think it relates more to the story. At this time in the story Miss Emily's father has passed away. William Faulkner used a broad range of vocabulary throughout this story and really showed his knowledge and talent. Using perpetuity instead of death, passed, or eternal, left you in suspense. I kind of knew it meant death but the way he had phrased it caused my mind to soar. I thoroughly enjoyed this story of Emily and her love for her boyfriend whom she never wanted to part with. So she kept him in her house and often slept beside him. Poor Emily, my heart went out to her.
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