How Does Faulkner Present Justice In Barn Burning

Justice through the Eyes of a Child

It has been stated that while doing what is right is not always easy, it is in fact doing what is right despite it being difficult that is quite the accomplishment. Justice one finds to be one of the major themes throughout “Barn Burning”. The notion of intuitive justice presents itself as a characteristic explored throughout William Faulkner’s literary masterpiece “Barn Burning” through the protagonist Colonel Sartoris Snopes, also referred to as Sarty throughout “Barn Burning”. Faulkner presents Sarty and demonstrates his sense of justice through literal actions and dramatic context.

Throughout Faulkner’s “Barn Burning” the reader acknowledges that the protagonist Sarty exhibits an intuitive sense of

justice. Faulkner has juvenile Sarty, who is merely ten years old, confront his father throughout “Barn Burning” because he possesses a heightened sense of right and wrong. Sarty’s father had on numerous occasions burned barns out of anger throughout Sarty’s childhood. On one such occasion Sarty even lets on that he would have testified against his own father (Faulkner, 482). To testify against ones own father, to stick to ones morals and concept of justice over sticking with family would be a difficult decision for most let alone a juvenile in the ate nineteenth century. At one point Sarty’s father, Abner Snopes, even reminds Sarty “you got to learn to stick to your own blood or you ain’t going to have any blood to stick to you” (Faulkner, 482). Sarty not only holds voices his mind about justice towards his father but also towards the barns owner, Major de Spain, when he believes that he is wronging his father with his outrageous fine (Faulkner, 488). Despite all of the outside pressure and his father’s expectations for him to remain loyal to his family Sarty still does the right thing in end and warns the barn’s owner of his father’s malicious intent of setting his barn ablaze (Faulkner, 491). Faulkner’s direct use of a bildungsroman to further express an intuitive sense of justice is genius to say the least.
Faulkner further uses context clues and subtle indications to build upon Sarty’s intuitive sense of justice.

Sarty, whose full name is Colonel Sartoris Snopes, shares his name with a Famous Civil War Colonel in Faulkner’s word throughout “Barn Burning”. Colonel Sartoris in Faulkner’s fictional world is a distinguished confederate Colonel most likely famous for his integrity (Faulkner, 480). The significance of Sarty being named after a man regarded so highly rest in the fact that Sarty holds himself to the same high standards. Someone even remarked to Sarty before he testified against his father “I recon anybody named for Colonel Sartoris in this country can’t help but tell the truth” (Faulkner, 480). Further subtle evidences of Sarty’s intuitive sense of justice comes from Faulkner’s brief statement about the Major de Spain manor. Sarty’s first reaction to seeing the manor is “hit’s as big as a courthouse” (Faulkner, 483). In this one phrase, this singular idea that pops into Sarty’s mind, the reader gains a quick glimpse into Sarty’s consciousness. Sarty’s almost instinctive thought is of a courthouse, and not of a bank or of a church. Courthouses are synonymous with justice, doing what is moral, and punishing what is immoral. Faulkner utilizes this thought to provide a subtle indication and further demonstration of Sarty’s sense of

justice.
Justice, a term Sarty, in Faulkner’s brief bildungsroman fiction “Barn Burning”, comprehends thoroughly. Whether juvenile Colonel Sartoris Snopes finds himself marveling at how much a building’s appearances resembles a courthouse or fleeing in the night to warn of arson Sarty possess a profound sense of justice. As the timeless expression insists “sometimes doing what is right is not always easy”.