William Faulkner Barn Burning - Research Paper Example

s 6 June, William Faulkner’s Barn Burning Barn Burning is a widely acclaimed short story, written by William Faulkner in 1939. This is the first one in the Snopes Trilogy series. Barn Burning is one of the most famous novels from William Faulkner. It is a heartwarming story about a young boy Sartoris (Sarty) who gets trapped in the social disorder and segregated environment of the early 1600s. It is a story which makes us realize that conviction and inner strength can bring forth prominent changes in society and cannot be bounded by age or maturity limits. Sarty is a young boy but is the most sensible character in this story. The word Barn Burning is an interesting title for this story because not just it involves the literal burning of a barn but also evokes an interest and understanding about the fire that was building up among people from lower classes. As a writer, Faulkner’s works have been highly appreciated for their formal and structural peculiarities. His stories mostly, revolve around the darker themes of class, race and gender issues and Barn Burning is no exception. Faulkner has stick to his trademark style of formal writing induced by the long sentences and the poetic dialogues. He always considered himself a failed poet and incorporated his passion for poetry in his writings. This can be explained by an example from the novel “He went on down the hill, toward the dark woods, within which the liquid silver voices of the birds called unceasingly- the rapid and urgent beating of the urgent and quiring heart of the late spring night. He did not look back.” (Shmoop 35-37). In Barn Burning, Sarty’s every emotion has been written in a very poetic way which is an important aspect of this novel. In Barn Burning, the story unfolds by a third person narrative. Although, the story is told from third person point of view, it is Sarty’s consciousness that, we get to dwell into and understand. Barn Burning presents an economic and political system that involves class conflicts, and robs the working class of power and equality. (Dobie 101) Every situation in this story is narrated, through Sarty’s thoughts and seen through his eyes. To acknowledge the reader on when this narration takes place in the story, the lines have been italicized. For example "I could run on and on and never look back, never need to see his face again. Only I can't. I can't". (Gioia and Gwynn 221) This aspect of Faulkner’s writing also helps the readers to get a comprehensive, and an in-depth understanding of Sarty’s character and feelings. Barn Burning’s genre falls into the category of modernist literature, which was a product of the modernist movement, on literary and artistic grounds, which emerged during the early 1900s. It is also a coming of age novel, because it encircles the life span of a child who matures ahead of his age due to the situations in his life and the events that follow. This is a story about class conflicts, the dominating characteristics of the family head and vengeance. Psychological suspense is also a part of this story and it is aptly handled by the author. The technique of dramatic irony is used for this purpose, which not only has created suspense in the story, but, has also made the reader aware of the psychological state of Sarty’s mind. It is due to this technique, which helps the reader understand the events that will be happening later on in the story, before the central character. For example, we get to know Abner’s decision of burning the De Spain Barn well, before Sarty gets the clue. This builds up the suspense factor in the story, when the reader cannot wait to know what will be his reaction and what will happen next. There are various distinctive themes, underlying William Faulkner’s Barn Burning. First and the most evident theme, that comes across is the sadness that prevails throughout the novel. The sadness sprouts on the lines of alienation and loneliness experienced by Sarty. It is a story of a child, who has had troubled childhood. His father is a criminal, and often teaches him improper moral lessons. Due to his father’s reputation, Sarty has become a socially unacceptable child. He is often the target of insults and humiliation at school; and this makes him sad. The saddening element is also depicted in the end part, when Sarty is narrated as sitting all alone on a hilltop. The lack of social ties is the main reason, which makes Sarty so sad and aloof. When he decides on leaving his family, it is this moral insight, which compels him that, the values his father wants him to obey does not cater to the norms prevailing in the society. Another theme underlying this great story is of anger and hatred. The character of Abner Snopes who is Sarty’s father is an embodiment of anger. Due to the class discrimination prevailing in their society, he has got certain complexes hidden within that he cannot bear the sight or presence of any one that belongs to a superior class. His socio-economic status in the society is a big motive behind his offensive behaviors. There are several other fiery characters in the novel, but, their anger has a definite cause. Sarty also has an aggressive personality but this is the outcome of his father’s anger and the social aloofness Sarty has been subjected to. Morality actually forms the basic theme for this novel. This story has a clear message, which is to abide by the laws and ethics of society. Sarty is unhappy with the character of his father. He simply cannot relate to him as a perfect father. At such a tender age, he gets beaten ruthlessly, and sees his father torturing his mother, which is unacceptable for him on moral and ethical grounds. The fact, that he was the son of a person who became a soldier to serve his own purpose of looting, suffocated Sarty. Loyalty is another theme of this novel. The dilemma, which Sarty goes through when his father is under trial and he knows the truth, it brings him to a verge of conscious conflict, on what side to choose. He loves his father despite the sadness he has caused Sarty and wants to remain loyal to him. But he has certain loyalties to his personal traits of honesty and morality, which he wants to oblige too. This has been explained by Noel Polk in Children of the Dark House as, “Sarty must choose between two value systems that are in conflict over the particular but in complete agreement over the general. He must choose between an abstract principle of social justice that favors property over people and a more immediate, concrete principle that insists upon family loyalty above all else. Each system has its hold over him, and each asks— nay, demands—that he martyr himself in its name. Whichever choice he makes, he suffers, in the abstract or in the particular. And choose he eventually must”. (Polk 28) Sarty and Abner, these two main characters, provide us two distinctive theories of this novel i.e. order and dis-order. Abner’s mind is always thinking on negative grounds. He is always shown behaving in an opposite way, and leading a dis-organized life. Though he was a soldier, but, it seems like he was on a constant unending war with his destiny and society. Abner's tendency toward barn-burning; sums up his warlike attitude toward social structure. This anti-social and violent attitude, result in their continuous relocation of quarter, and this disturbs Sarty as he longs for a normal social life. Sarty is in sharp contrast to his father; and believes in the importance of social norms and moral values. He opts for the truth, and trades order for disorder when Mr. Harris points at him during the courtroom scene, and informs the jury that this boy knows the truth. He wants truth to prevail, and liberation to flourish for him and his family. He wants to enjoy a life of order and organization, free from the social alienation and from his father’s tyranny. This way, the author has shown the distinctive attitude and approach of two characters, and also has tried to show that maturity is not associated with age factor, as here the son acts more maturely and sensibly than his father, throughout the novel. From a critical approach, Barn Burning is a sad story. It, very clearly shows, the classical struggle between the "privileged" and the "underprivileged" classes. (Dobie 101) Barn Burning presents a story that revolves around a dual set of conflicts. The more general one is the conflict between the individual and society. The more particular conflict is between the interior and exterior experience of the character Sarty. Faulkner has presented two thought systems, functioning in that society at the same time. He has narrated a story, which explains the root and cause of the problem; and its outcome too. With the character of Abner Snopes he informs the world how such a suffocating social environment can affect the lives of common people. Then he presents a promising picture for a positive future through Sartoris’s character. Sarty represents the true Marxist mind which realizes that an alternative system is needed. Barn Burning itself suggests that, successful economic and political systems must redistribute the means of production, and allow society to recognize the equality and humanity of all people. Works Cited Dobie, Ann. Theory Into Practice: An Introduction to Literary Criticism. Cengage Learning,, 2011. Print. Gioia, Dana and Gwynn, R.S. The art of the short story. Pearson Longman, 2006. 221. Polk, Noel. Children of the Dark House: Text and Context in Faulkner. Univ. Press of Mississippi, 1998. Print. Shmoop, First. Barn Burning: Shmoop Literature Guide. Shmoop University Inc, 2010. Print. Read More