Spotted Horses Literary Analysis

Throughout Spotted Horses, William Faulkner discusses the hope and aspiration of men in the South who resort to using corrupt business ethic to make a profit. By revealing his criticism of these men and their actions, Faulkner condemns the abandonment of morals and virtues for the sake of financial gain. First, Faulkner explains the use of capitalism and business the con men use to cheat the town’s people out of their money. Second, Faulkner expounds on the ideas of the relinquishing of justice, compassion, and honor, which cause no one to stand up for the community. Third, the author illiterates on the problems that arise from an inefficient law system with no regulations. In Spotted Horses, Faulker shows his criticism of the selfish actions

Unable to fully grasp the wildness of the horses, the swindlers convince the locals how much they need these untamed equine and purchase the horses. To start, Faulkner states in the beginning of the story the danger of the wild horses “The nearest animal rose on its hind legs with lightning rapidity and struck twice with its forefeet at Varner’s face, faster than a boxer,…” (Faulkner 2) This description of the horses brought to the town by Flem Snopes and the Texan indicate that they hold little possibility of being “broken” or tamed; nonetheless the two men ultimately convince the reluctant people of the town to purchase the wild animals. In addition, in critic Michael Sprinker’s Masterplots II: Short Story Series, Revised Edition, he discusses the unbroken stallions in the story by stating, “The story of the wild horses, symbolizing the unleashing of chaos on the world…” (par. 5). The chaos itself comes from the men’s fraudulent actions to make a profit by selling woolly beasts; lacking proper moral and ethical values the men care only about themselves. Likewise, knowing the dangers of the horses, the Texan belittles their wildness, “Them ponies is gentle as a dove, boys. The man that buys them will get the best piece of horseflesh he ever forked or drew for the money,” (Faulkner 10). Fully understanding

With no protection for the community, injuries insure when the animals escape and run rampant through the town. For instance, the Texan urges Mr. Armstid to buy one of the horses at the auction “Henry’s going to get the bargain of his life in about a minute,” (Faulkner 14). Unabashedly dishonest, the Texan hustles Henry out of his money, even convincing Mr. Armstid of the greatness of such a bargain for the horse. Likewise, one analytical book Three Famous Short Novels confirms, “The shrewd Texan convinces the gullible people in a small agrarian community…” (pg. 1). Through slick and deceitful lies, the Texan assures Henry of his need for a great and wild horse, even though Mr. Armstid possesses no money or real desire for this animal. In addition, Mrs. Armstid objects to the purchase of the horse and pleas for the men to refrain from taking their money, “If you take that five dollars I earned my chaps a-weaving for one of them things, I’ll be a curse on you and yours during all the time of man,” (Faulkner 15). The only character to disagree with this auction, Mrs. Armstid, a woman whose gender limits her negotiations in the era of the story, fails in convincing her husband to save their money as he ends up bidding on and securing a horse. Similarly, critic John McDermott discusses Mrs. Armstid’s