Melvin T Halsey Jr ENC 1102 – Professor Jeffrey Rubenstein Essay#2 – Persuasive Analysis July 27, 2016 In "Barn Burning" William Faulkner’s character Abner Snopes, a pugnacious arsonist and war veteran contrasts with his son who is also the protagonist. Abner’s anger was most likely set on by the time he served in the Civil War he fought in 10 years ago. While on trial for arson Abner necessitates his family to lie for him by demanding that they always choose to protect family over everyone and the law. The theme of domestic reliability being above the law is exhibited by Faulkner through his effective use of symbolism, historical context, and characters. Betrayal of those you hold dear in order to stay true to one’s own morals is a sacrifice …show more content…
that may have to be made. Abner’s actions, while unjust, may be the result of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and at this time in history there was no medical diagnosis. 10 years following the Civil war, Abner Snopes, a now veteran is an antagonistic man as a result of his altered state of mind. He fought as a mercenary during the war for compensation and not because of his loyalist duty. “The after effects exhibited by many of these veterans appear to constitute a syndrome identified as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which is defined as a delayed but persistent malaise characterized by nightmares, loss of control over behavior, emotional numbing and withdrawal from the environment, hyper-alertness, and anxiety and depression” (Shehan) As stated by Constance L. Shehan, war changes people from the way they used to be. Abner’s actions are consistent with this set of symptoms but this is decades before methods of rehabilitation were introduced in the 1980s so he is just running around being destructive. “Consequently, between 1968 and 1980 no official diagnosis for stress disorders was available” (Andreasen). Since there is a lack of knowledge in reference to stress disorders we cannot hold Abner solely responsible for his actions because he can’t understand them himself. Furthermore, the era the story is based on exhibits social discrimination of which Abner and his family fall victim to. He has an undesirable exchange with a black man at the DeSpain manor where he and his family will now be chartering farmland from. "Wipe yo foots, white man, fo you come in here. Major ain't home nohow" Abner replies with, "Get out of my way, nigger" (Faulkner 466). At this time in history blacks were minorities to their white counterparts, so for the conversation between the two go on as it did was unacceptable to him. Abner’s previous actions have dropped his social class and he has a hard time understand this which is understandable because he’s a veteran. A lot of Abner's behavior acts as signs in the divulging that he is in fact mentally ill and doesn’t have the slightest clue of how to control it. The fires Abner starts to serve as a theme for Faulkner, but also aid as troubling signs for the other characters and readers are described as "a small fire, neat, niggard almost, shrewd fire; such fires were his father's habit and custom always, even in freezing weather" (Faulkner 464).
Although it seemed unusual to the family, the small fires that Abner would start as they traveled, these were regular for him to construct during the war. “that niggard blaze was the living fruit of nights passed during those four years in the woods hiding from all the men, blue or grey” (Faulkner 464). His actions explain to the readers, but the other characters aren’t aware of this. It all goes back to the War and he is reverting back to that way of thinking and how frequently he practiced this. Faulkner describes the young protagonist's confusion and states that "the boy might have remarked this and wondered why not a big one" (Faulkner 464). The boy is unable to comprehend why instead of the destructive fires he normally starts; his father is constructing such a small fire. Later, it is shown that "the element of fire spoke to some deep mainspring of his father's being, as the element of steel or of powder spoke to other men, as the one weapon for preservation of integrity, else breath were not worth the breathing, and hence to be regarded with respect and used with discretion (Faulkner 464). Abner lacks control over his personal rage and fire is an illustration of his control. The …show more content…
dimensions, location, and length of burning time are all factors governed by him. Additionally, the wrecked items carried by the family in the wagon encompasses supplementary symbols.
Faulkner composes, "the battered stove, the broken beds and chairs, the clock inlaid with mother-of-pearl, which would not run, stopped at some fourteen minutes past two o’clock of a dead and forgotten day and time, which had been his mother’s dowry" (Faulkner 464). These items in the wagon symbolize the lack of togetherness of the family. Remaining faithful to Abner's deceitful engagements is leading his family down the road to misery and unhappiness. More in detail, the clock could imply Abner's authority over every single member of the relative’s life and how they are stuck in the downward spiral. The family struggles day by day to live on as well as not being kicked out of town as the chastisement for Abner's actions. Blood also plays a significant role in the story and relationship amongst the characters. Blood signifies family, which is apparent the readers, but has a more illuminating meaning when linked to the Snopes family. Sarty's anguish is portrayed by Faulkner at the start of the story while sitting before the judge. The smell of "the old fierce pull of blood" (Faulkner 462) overpowers his craving and the aroma of meat and cheese. The boy’s hunger falls short of his concern for ensuring his dad is safe. Abner has taught his family that you must do what it takes to take care of family, even if they have to lie to get out of trouble. It’s clear that Abner rules
his family with an iron fist because he uses words to enforce his authority but he also resorts to striking them. The fear of Abner's threatening words is one reason behind Sarty's allegiance. "You got to learn to stick to your own blood or you ain't going to have any blood to stick to you" (Faulkner 463). Abner uses intimidation to keep Sarty on his side. By telling him that if he isn't committed to his blood he'd be left all alone puts Sarty in a position to where he'd feel guilty for betraying them. An argument that could be made in this situation is that Abner is the protagonist and his son, Sarty, is the antagonist. Faulkner writes, "He aims for me to lie, he thought, again with that frantic grief and despair. And I will have to do hit" (Faulkner 463). Sarty decides to lie to cover for his father, despite his knowledge of knowing lying is the wrong thing to do but he’s stressed by his father’s remarks. Sarty wants to come out and be honest, but he is bound by the fear of being struck by Abner like before. It becomes unclear at times about what his true intentions are and if he’s actually ok with protecting his father despite his deceit. It’s not until Sarty grows up, he recognizes the immorality of his father’s actions and that it’s time he helps himself, as well as those being distressed by his father and decides to step up and act on his emotions. At this point, readers and Abner get an indication of Sarty as the antagonist. Faulkner goes on to say, “'Hold him,” the father said. The aunt made a startled movement. “Not you,” the father said. “Lennie. Take hold of him. I want to see you do it.” His mother took him by the wrist. “You'll hold him better than that. If he gets loose don't you know what he is going to do? He will go up yonder.” He jerked his head toward the road. “Maybe I'd better tie him” (Faulkner 471). Abner now knows that Sarty intends to divulge his actions to the judge and the families he's betrayed. Works Cited Andreasen, Nancy C. Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A History and a Critique. 26 July 2016. . Faulkner, William. “Barn Burning.” Literature: An Introduction to Reading and Writing. Ed. Robert Zweig and Edgar V. Roberts. 6th Compact Ed. Boston: Pearson, 2015. 462-72. Print. Shehan, Constance L. "Post Traumatic Stress Disorder." Archive.org. N.p., 15 July 2014. Web. 26 July 2016.
Bradbury first depicted fire as a hurtful force through Montag, a fireman, who burn books. With the converted mentality of his culture, “it was [Montag’s] pleasure to burn. It was a special pleasure to see things eaten, to see things blackened and changed” (3). Montag’s culture sees burning as an enjoyment; however, the fire portrayed here demonstrates the destruction of knowledge and personality. While Montag’s profession brings him joy he does not understand that burning is the most permanent form of destruction. He is oblivious to his governments’ strong desire to eliminate the ideas and knowledge that books hold. In this society, where ignorance is bliss and their phobia of unhappiness controls all aspects of life, people believe that their destructive fire “is bright and…clean”, as it is used as a means to keep themselves oblivious and happy (60). In addition, Bradbury establishes the difference in the symbolisms of fire by naming part one of his novel “The Hearth and the Salamander”. The hearth is the fireplace of the home and is the most positive image of fire. This fire contributes warmth and restores relationships between people. The salamander, the symbol of the firemen, and who personify fire’s destruction is contrasted with the hearth, which represents restoration.
At first glance, the story “Barn burning” seems just to be about a tyrannical father and a son who is in the grips of that tyranny. I think Faulkner explores at least one important philosophical question in this story were he asks at what point should a person make a choice between what his parent(s) and / or family believes and his own values?
The imagery of fire continues in the story; the building of their fires, how the man molds the fires, and how they stoke the fire. When the boy gets sick the father is referred to many times of how he builds and rekindles the fire. This actual fire is a symbol for the fire that the man and the boy discuss carrying within in them. The man fights to save his son and the fire within the boy
William Faulkner’s short story “Barn Burning” describes a typical relationship between wealthy people and poor people during the Civil War. The main character, Abner Snopes, shares the ropes to make a living for his family. He despises wealthy people. Out of resentment for wealthy people, he burns their barns to get revenge.
Sheetz 1 Sarah Sheetz Ms. Rosenberger English 4 October 17, 2016 Faulkner’s Self Help Book In “Barn Burning,” Faulkner illustrates a boy’s coming to age story, including his struggle in choosing whether to stand by in the midst of his father’s destructive cycle of spiteful burning or stand up for his own belief in civic duty. While most readers do not relate to having a father that habitually burns others’ belongings in a strange power scheme, readers relate to the struggle between blood ties and their own values. Taking the theme even broader, readers relate to any struggle with making a decision. Through imagery, reoccurring motifs, and diction, Faulkner creates an intense pressure which enhances readers understanding of Sarty, his struggle,
William Faulkner has written some of the most unique novels and short stories of any author, and, to this day, his stories continue to be enjoyed by many. Both “Barn Burning” and “A Rose for Emily” tell about the life of southern people and their struggles with society, but Faulkner used the dramatic settings of these two stories to create a mood unlike any other and make the audience feel like they too were a part of these southern towns. These two stories have many similarities in there setting, but they also have many differences to that make them unique and interesting.
Throughout the story “Barn Burning”, author William Faulkner conveys the moral growth and development of a young boy, as he must make a critical decision between either choosing his family and their teachings or his own morals and values. The reader should realize that the story “Barn Burning” was written in the 1930’s, a time of economic, social, and cultural turmoil. Faulkner carries these themes of despair into the story of the Snopes family.
William Faulkner, recognized as one of the greatest writers of all time, once made a speech as he accepted his Nobel prize for writing in which he stated that a great piece of writing should contain the truths of the heart and the conflicts that arise over these truths. These truths were love, honor, pity, pride, compassion and sacrifice. Truly it would be hard to argue that a story without these truths would be considered even a good story let alone a great one. So the question brought forward is whether Faulkner uses his own truths of the heart to make his story "Barn Burning." Clearly the answer to this question is yes; his use of the truths of the heart are prevalent
William Faulkner elected to write “Barn Burning” from his young character Sarty’s perspective because his sense of morality and decency would present a more plausible conflict in this story. Abner Snopes inability to feel the level of remorse needed to generate a truly moral predicament in this story, sheds light on Sarty’s efforts to overcome the constant “pull of blood”(277) that forces him to remain loyal to his father. As a result, this reveals the hidden contempt and fear Sarty has developed over the years because of Abner’s behavior. Sarty’s struggle to maintain an understanding of morality while clinging to the fading idolization of a father he fears, sets the tone for a chain of events that results in his liberation from Abner’s destructive defiance-but at a costly price.
Normally in life, you look up to your father to be the care taker and to encourage you to make your own decisions on what is right and what is wrong. You figure your father should have your best interest at heart and show compassion for you. In William Faulkner's short story "Barn Burning," Abner is the opposite of the normal father figure you would see. Rather than encouraging his son, Sarty, to make his own decisions on what is right and what is wrong, Abner wants Sarty to lie to him to protect his freedom, so Abner won’t get caught burning barns. Abner forces fear into Sarty to make sure he will lie to him rather than tell the truth.
People around the city went to bed, everything seemed relatively normal. Smoke dwindling into the dark night sky, the faint smell of burning wood. All normal for Chicago. Fires were a daily part of life for this wooden city. Near the time of 2 a.m. the fire didn’t seem so normal and average anymore. A mean flame was being born, it was blazing to life.
The figure of fire in the story is used many times throughout the story. The emotion that fire gives in the text is anger. In the story, “Barns Burning” Abner, the father is powerless and out of control. Fire is the one thing in his life he can control. Abner is the boss. This seems like another way of saying that Abner does not hit out of anger, or strong, burning emotion. Rather, his hitting is as calculated as his fire burning and he does it for a reason, to make the person or animal he hits do what he wants. Ironically, fire and hitting, the things that give Abner control over his life, without those around him makes him powerless. The quote “And older still, he might have divined the true reason: that the element of fire spoke to some deep mainspring of his father 's being, as the element of steel or of powder spoke to other men, as the one weapon for the preservation of integrity, else breath were not worth the breathing, and hence to be regarded with respect and used with discretion (Faulkner 228)” explains
In the short story Barn Burning, William Faulkner sets the scene in a courtroom located in a corner store market. Protagonist, Abner Snopes, was being accused of burning down Mr. Harris’s barn. Because of this, the Snopes family gpt forced to leave the country and never come back. They then moved to a beautiful new place where Abner worked as a sharecropper for Major De Spain. Not long after working for them, Abner ruined their valuable rug by intentionally tracking horse manure onto it. When told to clean it he used soap that completely destroyed it. Major de Spain fined Abner 20 bushels of corn, which caused Abner dto take Major De Spain to court. The Justice only deducts the punishment from 20 bushels to 10 bushels of corn. Due to Abner's rage he plots to burn Major de Spains house by instructing Sarty to gather kerosene. Meanwhile Sarty cautioned Major De Spain about his father’s motives. And lastly, three gun shots went off, but Sarty had no desire to look back to see who was killed.
Growing up in Mississippi in the late Nineteenth Century and the early part of the Twentieth Century, young William Faulkner witnessed first hand the struggles his beloved South endured through their slow progression of rebuilding. These experiences helped to develop Faulkner’s writing style. “Faulkner deals almost exclusively with the Southern scene (with) the Civil War … always behind his work” (Warren 1310. His works however are not so much historical in nature but more like folk lore. This way Faulkner is not constrained to keep details accurate, instead he manipulate the story to share his on views leading the reader to conclude morals or lessons from his experience. Faulkner writes often and “sympathetically of the older order of the antebellum society. It was a society that valued honor, (and) was capable of heroic action” (Brooks 145) both traits Faulkner admired. These sympathetic views are revealed in the story “A Rose for Emily” with Miss Emily becoming a monument for the Antebellum South.
...eard the gunfire, no longer in terror and fear, "Father. My Father he thought." Sarty tried to think good thoughts about his father thinking, "he was brave!" He served as a solder under Colonel Sartoris in the war! When the morning sun came up, he was finally on his own to be his own man, free to make his own individual decisions without worrying about what his father would do to him. It was from Sarty's dilemma of family loyalty and the desire to please his father that kept him from doing the right things. Was his father so bitter due to experiences he had during the Civil War ? Was it society's fault for what happened to his father? Was Abner just born with his us against them attitude? These are all questions that Faulkner leaves with us after reading the "Barn Burning." and is part of that fire in the back of our minds that we will never be able to put out..