Barn Burning :: Literary Analysis, William Faulkner

Sartys betrayal of his convey in William Faulkners story Barn electrocution is justified. The reader is introduced to Sartys father as he is being tried for electrocution the barn of Mr. Harris. Lacking evidence, the Justice of the Peace drops the charges against Abner Snopes, Sartys father, and he is ordered to give way the country. A harsh image of Sartys father is presented in the line, he Sarty followed the peeved black coat, the wiry figure walking a little smack from where a Confederate provosts mans musket ball had taken him in the heel on a stolen horse thirty years ago (2177). The reader is assumption insight into Snopes shady past and learns he has never been a law-abiding citizen. Sartys inner turmoil centers around his sense of loyalty to his father and his witness conflict with knowing his fathers actions are wrong. Through Faulkners use of stream-of-consciousness narration, the reader is assured of Sartys suasions. In oneness instance, Sarty alludes to Mr. Harris as his fathers enemy (our enemy he thought in that despair, ourn, mine and hisn both Hes my father) (2176). Upon hearing the hiss of someone accusing his father of burning barns, Sarty feels the old fierce pull of line of merchandise and is blindly thrust into a fight, only to be physically jerked pole by his fathers hand and his cold voice ordering him to get in the wagon. As the Snopes family leaves town, Sarty consoles himself with the hope that this will be the last time his father commits the act that he cannot bring himself to even think of Maybe hes through with(p) satisfied now, now that he has (2177). Deep down, Sarty knows his father is not button to end his destructive rampage. Ten-year-old Sarty cannot understand the true reasons for his fathers actions that the element of fire speak to some deep mainspring of his fathers being, and, even more importantly, the fire served as the one weapon for the preservation of his integrity (2178). Sar tys thoughts when he realizes he might be questioned regarding the barn burning reflect the fear and despair he experiences He aims for me to lie. And I will have to do hit (2176). Later, Sartys father violently reminds him that blood is thicker than water when he accuses Sarty of being ready to betray him.