Initiation In Frank O Connor's Short Stories

Initiation or growing up comes shining through in many characters in many stories. Some that have characters of initiation include the episode “To Catch a Wild Horse” of the series Lancer, as well as the short stories “First Confession” by Frank O’Connor and “Barn Burning” by William Faulkner I chose the stories of initiation because I can relate to growing up and changing ways suddenly. The characters and stories I chose to analyze maturing include Johnny from Lancer, Jackie from “First Confession”, and Colonel Sartoris Snopes from “Barn Burning”.
Lancer has a story of initiation in the episode “To Catch a Wild Horse” through the character of Johnny. Johnny’s old life has him being a rambunctious gunfighter with very little responsibility.

Johnny must move onto his father’s ranch and help out with responsibility (Peeples). His father then gives him orders that require him to become responsible and work hard. The responsibilities and hard work are not only what cause Johnny to grow up completely in my opinion, but they certainly play a great part. Johnny grows up after experiencing death when the man he chose to run away from the ranch with in the episode, Wes dies. Johnny grow up a
“First Confession” also has a story of initiation through the character of Jackie.

Jackie, a young child about seven years old, matures by attending his first confession after having “it all arranged to kill my grandmother” due to her unfair treating between him and his sister (O’Connor 723). Jackie grows into a young man after finally braving the confession box after trying to avoid it by claiming to “a toothache” (O’Connor 721). After making multiple mistakes in the confession box, Jackie goes out to his sister to inform her that he received only “Three Hail Marys” (O’ Connor 724). At this point Jackie matures and realizes that part of growing up includes confessing and that honesty gets the best reward. Just as Jackie matures into new realizations in the short story “First Confession, Colonel Sartoris Snopes in the short story “Barn Burning” does the

same.
“Barn Burning” includes a story of initiation through the character of Colonel Sartoris Snopes.

Sartoris is the son of Abner Snopes, a man who chooses to take his anger out on people by burning their barn burning barns is an insult because a man stores his valuable animals and hay. Abner sends his slave to warn Major de Spain, a man he has become upset with, that “wood and hay kin burn” (sic.) (Faulkner 162). Sartoris decides to run away from home after realizing what his father has been doing to people. While running away he warns Major de Spain “Barn!” because he knows what his father plans to do (Faulkner 173). He runs away to start a new life and change the way people view him because of his last name. He realizes at a very young age that life is difficult and he must become a responsible man and take care of himself all while trying to change the views of other people due to his father’s mistakes and

actions.
Johnny, Jackie, and Sartoris all three mature throughout the stories in “To Catch a Wild Horse”, “First Confession”, and “Barn Burning”. Maturity comes at the strangest times and seems not to have a slow onset, but a quick sudden onset. Maturing happens to almost everyone, but how that person chooses to use the maturity he/she receives can make or break him/her.