Loyalty In Barn Burning

William Faulkner was a Nobel Prize-winning author who was famous for writing about the American South and boldly addressing social issues that everyone else was afraid to, including slavery and Southern aristocracy. “Faulkner became known for his faithful and accurate dictation of Southern speech” (“William Cuthbert Faulkner”) and poetic style in his prose works. One of his more subtle works, “Barn Burning,” focused on loyalty. The short story “Barn Burning” demonstrates to readers how loyalty to the law must sometimes take priority over loyalty to family. In the story, William Faulkner tells readers of a young man named Sartoris Snopes whose father, Abner Snopes, has pyromaniac tendencies that constantly get him into legal trouble and put

The climax of the story is when Sartoris finally ceases to cover up for his father and allows him to pay the consequence of his actions. Abner Snopes had burned many barns prior to moving close to the de Spain mansion but Sartoris was afraid to turn him in. Seeing the mansion gives Sartoris a hope for the future which ultimately rids him of his fear of standing up against his father. With his newfound courage, Sartoris warns Major de Spain and then Abner is shot down with a gun and killed. Once Abner is finally defeated, everything naturally falls back into place and Sartoris’ life changes: “He went on down the hill, toward the dark woods within which the liquid silver voices of the birds called unceasing- the rapid and urgent beating of the urgent and quiring heart of the late spring night. He did not look back.” Sartoris mourns the death of his father-despite his careless mistakes and lousy parenting- and makes the impulsive decision to run away from his current life and commence a new journey on to a different place away from everyone he leaves

The setting of the story, as like all of Faulkner’s works, is rural, southern America about 30 years after the Civil War which explains why the judicial system is rather weak at serving justice, why barn burning is a common felony, and why African-Americans are offensively addressed with racial slurs and cruel terms like “nigger.” Also, the setting during most barn burnings is at night which adds intensity to Abner’s actions and it shows the sinister, unlawful, and disdainful nature of everything he does. Many symbols are incorporated into the story but the most important is fire; fire gives Abner a sense of control and power since it is the only thing in his life where he feels like he is in control. Another thing that gives Abner a feeling of control is hitting his loved ones because it makes them powerless against him. William Faulkner has a unique poetic style of writing incorporated into his prose works which targets the emotions and senses of readers yet still offers deep character developments and story lines. “Barn Burning” is a short story with deep development and underlying aspects that add fullness and roundness to the