Barn Burning by William Faulkner Book Review

The short story “Barn Burning” by William Faulkner represents a modern writer in American literature that and demonstrates various theme. 

The main conflict in the story is among Abner Snopes and his son, Colonel Sartoris. Immediately begins to lead the reader to believe that the conflict that will dominate “Barn Burning” is between the Snopes and the town in which they live. Opening paragraphs describe a man standing accused of burning his neighbor’s barn, which is a serious offense in the agriculture-dominated American South. That man is Abner, and observing the legal proceedings taking place in the general store/courthouse is Sartoris, Abner’s ten-year-old son. Initial questioning misleads reads the reader to assume that Abner may very well be guilty of the charge of burning his neighbor’s barn, with a testimony from the African American man’s message to the barn’s owner, Mr. Harris he said, “He says to tell you wood and hay kin burn,” which seemed specifically incriminating. Faulkner emphasizes this idea depicting the young boy’s perceptions of legal process and his father’s position, initially when Sartoris is merely observing and then when he is questioned directly by the justice.

Sartoris is growing up to view mainstream society as innately hostile to his father and, by extension, to him. As the story proceeds, however, the truth of his father emerges and the realization that the real conflict in “Barn Burning” is between Sartoris and Abner. The father’s rage at the world, frequently manifested in the hitting of his son, is explained as necessary to remind Sartoris of his responsibility to stand by his own kind, his own blood. Abner is a demanding, brutal veteran of the Confederacy and a desperately poor tenant farmer and holds within himself and enduring anger and bitterness that Sartoris fears, It is the realization that Abner is in fact a barn-burner, however that provides the spark that starts the proverbial fire that divides father from son. Followed by a passage in which Abner, angry over the justice’s decision that he must pay for the damages to Major de Spain, the wealthy owner of the estate on which he labors, Major de Spain, for a damaged rug that Sartoris finally attains the full measure of the man he calls father. 

The most noticeable literary element Faulkner uses in this story is sentence structure. Faulkner’s sentences are very long and have many interruptions. They certainly flow like streams of consciousness because they are one clause after another. An example is shown in the second sentence as it is 116 words in length. Another major element he uses in the story is point of view. Faulkner relates this story from the young Sarty, who is ten years old. Depicting words from a ten-year old who is illiterate. The other literary element is setting. The Snopes’ are very illiterate people who are almost like slaves. Barn Burning’s setting is not really a place, but it is the act of traveling from one place to another. The Snopes’ are always evicted from one place and having to move to another, due to Abner’s fighting and violence. The wagon is the setting and the story also revolves around Abner’s personality and Sarty’s attempt to get a grip on the situation in his rebellious manner.

The main themes in “Barn Burning” are loyalty, betrayal, anger, and mortality. Sarty Snopes faces a moral dilemma, which was to be loyal to his father or to betray the family by warning Major de Spain about the planned barn burning. Abner Snopes resents anyone of higher social station. He takes offense quickly and his anger always becomes destructive, no matter how gone it may be. Sarty Snopes initially begins on the angle of moral independence. However, in order to act on his own morals, he must also distance himself from his immoral family.   

In Conclusion, Faulkner’s “Barn Burning” not only shows many writing element styles along with various themes of loyalty, but also conveys the moral growth and many other critical decisions and development that the young boy must chose between his family and their teachings or his own moral s and values.