Introduction
Family relationships are never simple and are characterized by specific attitudes, levels of responsibility, and expectations imposed by the members. The short story “Barn Burning” by William Faulkner illustrates how family loyalty can affect a person, provoking a mix of positive and negative feelings. On the one hand, a young boy, Colonel Satoris Snopes, or Sarty, unconsciously believes in his family despite his inability to manage fear and anxiety. On the other hand, the head of the family, Abner Snopes, continues to make destructive, egoistic decisions to demonstrate his vision of justice.
In addition to Faulkner’s preferred tone and long sentences, many potent symbols and clear themes prove the story’s worth. This literary analysis focuses on compelling connections between the themes of loyalty in Sarty’s and Abner’s behavior and the power of blood-and-fire symbols in “Barn Burning.” The contradictions between family loyalty and the law should never be ignored by a father or a child, even under the pressure of uncontrolled, but temporary, blood ties.
Family Loyalty
Among the various crucial topics, the theme of loyalty to family and the law is developed effectively in the story. Relying on the memories and the observations of the main characters, the father has participated in the Civil War and now hates blacks. Although the author does not give the details, it is clear that Abner is “giving fidelity to no man or army or flag” but “going to war… for booty” (Faulner 18). Thus, the family with such a leader cannot understand the worth of the law and its role in society.
At the same time, the father teaches the son to “stick to your own blood” because if “you ain’t going to have any blood to stick to you” (Faulkner 5). Family support is steady and necessary to survive, earn a living, and resist a society that offers its justice and norms. This story teaches that remaining loyal to the family and the law is impossible, and the characters should make their own decisions.
Father-Son Relationships
Faulkner introduces different characters with their principles and beliefs, but the comparison of the father and the younger son is central. In most cases, the characters are presented from the point of view of a little boy who remembers his father, “the terror, and despair” (Faulkner 6). All family members respected Abner’s approaches, including the mother, the older brother, and the sisters.
However, it is not hard to guess that respect is based not on the father’s correctness and appropriateness but on their fears and dependence. Sarty, in turn, can no longer support his family’s wrong decisions. He takes a step to change something even though his “breath was strong again, small, shaking steadily in the chill darkness” (Faulkner 18). Compared to his father, who does not recognize right and wrong, the boy understands the worth of dignity in human relationships. Still, his lack of experience deprives him of an opportunity to compare temporary and permanent truths and virtues, which the author symbolically represents in the literary work.
Symbolism
Although it is not always easy to read Faulkner’s story due to multiple long sentences and complex constructions, the reader can recognize the impact of symbolism in “Barn Burning.” The author uses the word “blood” several times, with different meanings, to recognize family ties, express a desire for revenge, and underscore the absence of feelings and understanding. The son sees his father “against the stars but without face or depth – a shape black, flat, and bloodless as though cut from tin in the iron folds of the frockcoat” (Faulkner 5). In this case, bloodless shows the rigid constraints between the man and the child due to misunderstanding and poor support.
Fire symbolizes a solution for the characters or “the one weapon for preserving integrity” (Faulkner 4). Unfortunately, the line between irrefutable blood relationships and the fleeting power of fire is poorly identified. The characters fail to make the right decisions and draw the right conclusions: the son due to his immaturity, and the father due to his ambitions.
Conclusion
In conclusion, this literary analysis is a unique opportunity to compare the story’s tone and style by gaining a better understanding of the characters, the central theme, and several symbols. Faulkner seems never to like simple settings and standpoints, ensuring the reader can find meaning between the lines. “Barn Burning” features two strong, opposing characters in terms of age, beliefs, and attitudes toward life.
Despite its physical strength and impact, Abner is weak and uses blood ties as the only excuse for his actions. In contrast, little Sarty does not understand lies and can do nothing to improve a situation. Still, his innocence and immaturity make him a positive character who can balance his loyalty to family and the law with loyalty to himself.
Work Cited
Faulkner, William. Barn Burning. 1938.