Analysis of Barn Burning Essay - 580 Words

William Faulkners story Barn Burning occurs in the fictive Yoknapatawpha County, Mississippi. It is a story set in the 1930s, a decade of the Great Depression when social and economic problems existed. Barn Burning is a story about social inequality, in particular with the rich land owning family de Spain in contrast to the poor tenant farming ways of the Sartoris family. Abner is the father in the family. He is a cold deviant man. His family is constantly moving around because of the violent crimes he commits. This creates external conflict between Abner and de Spain. Out of this argument arises Sartys argument, that deals with sticking to both his morals and loyal ties to his family. Abner has been tried once†¦show more content†¦The black servant in fancy clothes exerts power over him, making Abner feel like a lesser man. Sarty responds to the elegant home with a with a surge of peace and joy. It was like a safe haven from the terror in his life. In contrast, Abner views the house as a reminder of his low economic status. He probably feels the injustice and becomes enraged. His anger and perhaps jealousy drives him to destroy the landowners expensive rug. When he is charged ten bushels of corn, he is pushed over the edge and plots to destroy Mrs. De Spains barn. In his mind, this would create justice. Sartys moral views kick in when he becomes aware of his fathers evil plan. He turns against his family in part because of his fathers betrayal to his moral beliefs. At the end he feels grief and despair, not terror. Grief may arise from realizing how immoral his father has become. Sarty still believes that he was a brave man for having fought in Colonel Sartoriss calvary. Abner was not so heroic though, when in truth he stole horses from both armies and profited off their sales. Faulkner alludes to character to the Bible where Abner, the commander in chief of the armies, didnt try hard to protect King Sauls life. Sartys mother expresses her emotions towards the actions of her husband, but at the same time she respects him. She is against the violence and destruction that he creates, but doesntShow MoreRelatedLiterary Analysis of Barn Burning771 Words   |  4 PagesLiterary Analysis of Barn Burning Child abuse has been a common occurrence throughout the times of this world. In the story Barn Burning that was written by the author William Faulkner, a story is told of a boy named Colonel Sartoris Snopes who lives with his family. His father is a man who has seen the brutality of war and has a very cold heart. His name is Abner Snopes. His heart is so cold that it is almost as if he is not even human. William Faulkner in the story uses words comparing AbnerRead MoreLiterary Analysis of â€Å"Barn Burning†2800 Words   |  12 PagesA Literary Analysis of â€Å"Barn Burning† In the beginning, â€Å"Barn Burning† appears to be a story about an oppressive father and his family, who seems to be caught up in his oppression. As you read further in to the story you find that the story is focused on a young son of a poor sharecropper, who has to struggle with his father’s arsonist tendencies which are destroying his families’ reputation and life style, while coming to terms with his own morality. The young son, whose name is Colonel SartorisRead MoreAnalysis Of The Poem Barn Burning 1617 Words   |  7 PagesThe elephant vanishes, Kafka on the Shore. He not only creates novels, also writes good short stories. Barn burning is a good example that reflects Murakami’s style and his concerns about the people, who live on the fringe of society. In this story, the barn actually is a metaphor. 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Although the run on sentences are not quite as complicated or abundant as those of the other Faulkner works we have read, I still found myself wondering to some extent what the story was really about. Was it just about a bitter mans spitefulness toward Colonel de Spain as a result of his jealousy of the colonels status? Or was thereRead MoreAnalysis Of Greasy Lake And Barn Burning856 Words   |  4 Pagesdaily in making the right or wrong decision. In order to do what is right it takes a strong will person who is a leader and not a follower of the masses. The authors T. Coraghessan Boyle and William Faulkner in the short stories â€Å"Greasy Lake† and â€Å"Barn Burning†, portrayed how individuals can be leaders and ultimate make good decisions against all odds. So what character traits help these young men to eventually become good decisions makers? 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Sarty’s father has been burning barns. At the time a family’s barn was their way of life. So what Sarty’s father was doing was a big deal. The conflict between Sarty and his father is so strong because Abner Snopes, Sarty’s dad, puts such an emphasis on being loyal to