Family Life And Discrimination In Barn Burning By William Faulkner

He is even more afraid of losing his father’s trust after Abner hits him “hard but with out heat”(280) not for telling the truth, but for wanting to. Sarty is conscious of the fact that if Abner knew his desire for “truth, justice, he would have hit”(280) him again and that Abner’s recommendation that he “learn to stick to” his “own blood or you ain’t going to have any blood to stick to you”(280) is more of a threat rather than fatherly advice. Sarty learns to stifle any qualms he has and overlook his own developing morals in order to defend his father’s cold-blooded attacks. In the face of Abner’s “outrage and savagery and lust”(286) and the ever-present conflict these emotional outbursts cause, Sarty’s sense of obligation to his father out weighs his desire to “run on and on and never look back”(286). He hopes being forced out of town will transform the side of Abner that possesses an “inherent [ly] voracious prodigality with material not his own”(279) and he will be satisfied once and for all. As father and son walk within sight of an impressive manor “big as a courthouse”(280) owned by Major de Spain, a wealthy landowner with whom Abner has struck a deal to farm corn on his land, Sarty knows at once that “they are safe from him”(280). His father’s “ravening”(281) envy could not possibly touch these “people whose lives are part of this peace and dignity”(281). But, Abner is seething with “jealous rage”(281) at the sight of the de Spain

In “Barn Burning,” the author, William Faulkner, composes a wonderful story about a poor boy who lives in anxiety, despair, and fear. He introduces us to Colonel Satoris Snopes, or Sarty, a boy who is mature beyond his years. Due to the harsh circumstances of life, Sarty must choose between justice and his family. At a tender age of ten, Sarty starts to believe his integrity will help him make the right choices. His loyalty to family doesn’t allow for him to understand why he warns the De Spain family at such a young age. Faulkner describes how the Snopes family is emotionally conflicted due to Abner’s insecurities, how consequences of a father’s actions can change their lives, and how those choices make Sarty begin his coming of age into

The setting of this story is very important because it gives you a sense of what life was like back during the late 1800s. “Barn Burning” takes place in the south after the civil war. After the civil war, the south was in the period of reconstruction. A lot of the south was destroyed from the war, and it affected everyone in the south from their economy, to their personal lives. Many people lived impoverished like the Snopes family. Abner Snopes holds a lot of resentment because he couldn’t be successful in his life. Instead of changing his life and working hard, he resents everything and everyone around him. This attitude eventually leads to his downfall.

The short story,”Barn Burning”written by William Faulkner is about a 10 year old boy named Sarty, who gets called to the stand of the court; his father, Abner Snopes, is accused of burning a barn down. Sarty knows that his father is guilty of arson and wants justice to be served, but, his father wants him to stay loyal to his family and blood. The conflict of morals vs. family goes on for the entire story,Sarty’s moral beliefs are embedded in justice and peace, while his father wants him to protect his family no matter the circumstances. Literary devices used in the story are symbolism and diction, the symbols of blood and fire being, family and a chain.and being told from the perspective of a timid ten year old boy. One of the major themes present throughout the story is courage, wanting to tell on his father for arson but, being shot down by his intimidating father. William Faulkner illustrates the theme of courage through the use of symbolism and diction

“Barn Burning” is a story which was first published in 1939 and later awarded the O. Henry Memorial Award. It was the best short story of the year. William Faulkner, the author, was a creative and innovative writer whose ability to describe a place makes you feel like you are present and experiencing all happenings that take place in the story. Particularly in this short story, he has managed to create the picture of real-life events in the minds of readers while depicting the main theme: constant struggle between the poor and rich.

If we compare William Faulkner's two short stories, 'A Rose for Emily' and 'Barn Burning', he structures the plots of these two stories differently. However, both of the stories note the effect of a father¡¦s teaching, and in both the protagonists Miss Emily and Sarty make their own decisions about their lives. The stories present major idea through symbolism that includes strong metaphorical meaning. Both stories affect my thinking of life.

developing a mind and will of his own. He is no longer unperceptively loyal to his father.

The theme of William Faulkner's Barn Burning is Colonel Sartoris Snope's desire to break away from the oppressive conditions of his family life. He is pulled between his family and his morality. In this essay, I will discuss Sarty's struggle between the two sides of his conflict and the point at which it becomes resolved.

His father’s actions make it hard to fit in because he lets his anger get the best of him. Ab Snopes is accused of burning a barn and Sarty must decide whether to be loyal to his father family or betray them. As Sarty and his family travel to their next home, Sarty cannot even bring himself to think the truth about what his father has done for fear of the repercussions. When they arrive at their new place, Sarty believes that these people are “too big” for his father to reach with his wrath due to their stature. The young boy hopes that his father will change his ways because this was the nicest place they had ever lived.

Sarty is saved from testifying at the hearing when neither Mr. Harris nor the Justice of the Peace can bring themselves to make him turn on his father. Without eye witness testimony the case is dismissed, but the Justice of the Peace has demanded Abner leave town.

2.Billinglea, O. Fathers and Sons: The Spiritual Quest in Faulkner's 'Barn Burning. Mississippi Quarterly: The Journal of Southern Culture 44.3 (Summer 1991).

actions to show that no one will own or control him. He has no regard

William Faulkner’s short story, “Barn Burning” deeply illustrates many different conflicts. Conflicts endured by a father and son, along with significant characters in an era where social class and inequality affect morality and loyalty. This suspenseful, coming of age story takes place somewhere in the “deep south” of America soon after the Civil War. The main character, Colonel Sartoris Snopes better known as Sarty, is a ten-year-old boy and son of Abner Snopes. In the opening scene Abner Snopes is held in a courthouse for allegations related to the crime of arson against a local farmer’s barn. During his trial, Sarty is forced to testify against his father and is put into an uncomfortable position, as he struggles with his family loyalties, and his moral obligations to speak the truth. This event is the catalyst to the twisted and unrelenting conflicts between characters and themselves.

In Williams Faulkner’s short story “Barn Burning” there are several themes to be evaluated here. To me the main theme here is justice but there are a couple other themes the author uses to clarify this theme. He uses the strong ties of post-civil war families living outside of civilization and their dedication to each other. He embraces the idea of bravery several times which shows that doing the right thing, while going against family tradition, can be a difficult challenge. And finally he brings us back to justice by comparing bravery to family commitment. Although the main

At the start of the story, Sarty Snopes does not know what or how to decide if his father is the man who burnt the barn down. He wants to do what is right. He wants to know the truth, but he knows deep down that doing what is right will not be saving his father. In the opening scene, his father has been accused of purposely burning a neighbor’s barn to the ground because his neighbor will not let his pig walk freely without a consequence on Abner’s part. Any reader can see from this small scene that Abner is not a good man to be around.