Analytical Essay: Barn Burning by William Falkner

INTRODUCTION

It is known that many writers try to discuss morality in their literary works. As a rule, they use their characters to show what is right and what is wrong. William Faulkner is one of those writers who discuss traditional notions of right and wrong. His story Barn Burning is a true example of the literary work which teaches morality. The author makes his readers to ponder over loyalty to the law and loyalty to the family. A small boy of ten years old is ready to make his choice. He chooses loyalty to the law because his moral principles do not allow him to violate the law. The small boy understands that loyalty to the family is a great cost and a heavy burden for him that can ruin his life. That is why he goes against his father’s animal violence and rejects loyalty to the family.

My goal in this essay is to analyze William Faulkner’s story Barn Burning and to prove the fact that the main character Sarty has made a right choice.

PROTAGONISTS AND ANTAGONISTS IN THE STORY

The story Barn Burning tells about a white tenant farmer Abner Snopes who tried to protest against the society and injustice by means of fire. He is a person of strong character, a former soldier who does not want to put up with inequality in the society he lives in. Abner Snopes burns barns of rich masters and teaches his children to do the same. He tells his son: “You got to learn to stick to your own blood, or you aren’t going to have any blood to stick to you”. (Faulkner 13) However, William Faulkner represents another character in his story, Abner’s son Sarty who is ready to protest against his father’s immorality. The author shows the development of the boy’s personality. At first, the boy feels that his father’s actions are immoral, but he blindly follows his father. However, at the end of the story, the boy is ready to make a serious decision and to warn everybody about his father’s scheme.

SYMBOLISM IN THE STORY

It is necessary to pay special attention to symbolism in the story. The burning barns, fire and the soiled rug are special symbols used by the author in order to develop the major themes of his literary work and to show the personalities of his main characters. For example, the burning barns represent the evil that takes place in the society. The other symbol – fire represents the powerlessness of Abner Snopes. For him, fire is a means to show his integrity. The soiled rug symbolizes another act of protest against inequality in the society. Snopes knows that this rug is an expensive one and that the prosperous landowner will be very upset when he sees the rug soiled with the horse manure.

THE MAJOR THEMES IN THE STORY BURNING BARN

William Faulkner’s story Burning Barn develops many important themes. Of course, the major theme is representation of morality and loyalty to the law. The small boy realizes that it is impossible to live with a person who is full of violence and rage, who thinks only about destruction, who does not want to live according to the established rules. The boy chooses to reject his father’s principles. When a local boy accuses Abner of being a burner and hits Sartoris, the boy tries to defend his family. However, when his father plans to burn another barn, Sartoris realizes that it’s time to stop his criminal actions. The boy does not want to violate the law.

The other important theme reveled by the author is the theme of search for better life. Sartoris lives in fear and despair. He is surrounded by violence and conflict. His father is a barn burner, his family is poor and the boy has no opportunity to get education. Sartoris as well as his sisters has to work in the field. The boy wants his family to live a peaceful life. That is why he is ready to get rid of his father’s oppression. The boy starts a new life, where “grief and despair are now no longer terror and fear”. (Faulkner 32)

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, it is necessary to say that in the story Barn Burning, William Faulkner tried to show the readers that violence and evil have no place in the human society. The small boy could stop the criminal actions of his father who had the main goal – to destroy the property of his prosperous landlords, to burn barns where the most important things for the farmers were kept including corn and machinery. The author showed fear and despair of Abner’s family and the boy’s great desire to change his life. The small boy realized that loyalty to the law was more important than loyalty to the family which was overwhelmed by fear and despair.