The Endless Circle in William Faulkner's Barn Burning

The Endless Circle in William Faulkner's Barn Burning

William Faulkner's short story “Barn Burning” is the tale of a southern

man forced into a role by society. “Barn Burning” takes place in the post Civil

War South where a mans place in society is derived by their actions during the

war. Ab Snopse, a man who served both the North and the South, is plagued with

his non-allegiance and failure to accept authority. When Ab comes into conflict

with his employer, he finds himself taking control from the authority figure,

and reverting back to his mercenary ways. Having no allegiance, Ab makes the

move from helping hand to the enemy by burning down barns.

Along with many of Faulkner's short stories, “Barn Burning” is set in

the imaginary Mississippi county of Yoknapatawpha. During the restoration of

the South, the time period following the Civil War, the only thing that kept the

South alive and running where the memories of fallen heroes and the belief that

the South would someday regain the status that it had once held. Families like

the Sartorises and the de Spains were glorified and praised for honors that

their family members had achieved during battle. The honor that families like

these were granted placed them in public offices, and gave them opportunities to

prosper where others could only dream about. This same honor seemed to carry on

to those who shared the names of the great war heroes. “‘Hey', the Justice said.

‘Talk louder. Colonel Sartoris? I reckon anybody named for Colonel Sartoris in

this county can't help but tell the truth, can they?'” (Kennedy 163).

On the other hand, the Snopses are viewed as dishonorable. During the

war, Ab Snopse was considered a mercenary for serving both sides of the way. “

...nights passed during those four years in the woods hiding from all men, blue

and gray, with his strings of horses (captured horses, he called them)” (165).

Ab stole horses from the North and the South, to earn a living. He was even

shot by a confederate soldier, “His father turned, and he followed the stiff

black coat, the wiry figure walking a little stiffly from where a Confederate

provost's man's musket ball had taken him in the heel on a stolen horse thirty

years ago...”(164). Actions like these caused the community to look down upon

the Snopses, which in turn caused Ab to invoke revenge upon his adversaries.

When Ab comes into conflict with an employer, he reverts to his old

Civil War ways of non allegiance to benefit himself.