Thematic Concepts in Barn Burning - A Comprehensive Analysis

Introduction 

In “Barn Burning,” William Faulkner constitutes an incredible fable of the 30’s about a boy who dwells in complete apprehension and despondency because of the impending cultural, economic, and social tumult at the time. A boy, Colonel Satoris Snopes or Sarty, due to the extreme and rigorous circumstance of life, is forced to mature at a tender age. He is faced with the daunting task of making life choices. At the age of 10, he starts to believe that moral integrity will salvage and help him sail through the tides of depression, anxiety, and phobia caused by the prevailing race for social class and civil modernization aesthetic at that era (Faulkner, 1977). In his rendition, Faulkner avows the discrepancy rift between tenants and landowners by highlighting the dichotomy of societal values such as social stratification, injustice, unfairness, and blacks servitude 

Subject of Loyalty 

In the courtroom, Sarty faces a cumbrous situation of moral quandary; to firmly allege his undivided support to protect his father, Abner Snopes or betray him by revealing his father’s plan to burn down the barn. However, by judging from his father’s posture and hints of non-verbal cues, he chooses not to testify against him. His loyalty to his father denies him a chance to understand why he warns De Spain at a young age (Faulkner, 1977). The subject of loyalty is manifested in Sarty’s action throughout the narrative. The court incident is completely a rational deed and almost expected behavior from a kid living with a father, prone to retaliation and constant rebellion with authorities like Abner. Sarty is incapable of admitting to the truth even to his soul (as seen from series of internal conflicts he has before deciding) because of his unvaried loyalty to his Father. Sarty’s instinct is conveyed to realize his father’s wrongdoing but throughout these incidences, he cannot betray his father. 

Concept of Conflict 

Like nomads, Sartoris and his family were forced to wander through seasons to secure jobs, because they were sharecroppers. For this reason, they were faced with the need to secure land with different landowners. However, Abner’s emotional delinquency is revealed to be the cause of his egocentrism and lands him and his family into a series of constant rebellion and conflict with the landowners. The family is in constant migration and is sometimes forced to forfeit their agreement with the landlords due to Abner’s unacceptable misconduct. For instance, Abner smears the landowners' carpet with horse defecates and then sues him later claiming he charged him too much for the damage (Faulkner, 1977). This behavior, however, symbolizes annoyance with the sovereign regime and a primitive approach to challenge it with prior cognizance of the impending castigation. Abner’s actions are seen to be dramatically conveying a message of discontent with sovereignty. He ineffectually fires back at the lords of the time without considering that his rebellion would risk ostracizing his family. His erratic behavior is seen to escalate when he burns down his lord’s barn. 

Social Stratification 

The thematic episode of social stratification and black subservience is depicted in the fable. This is displayed by the existence of sharecropping and tenant farmers working under stern commands of landlords like major de Spain. Being a tenant was undesirable and unpleasant because of the unproportioned low wages for the enormous amount of work done. The sharecroppers had very little money to afford clothing and shelter, so the landlords would charge them for goods and sometimes grab their crops and land. However, soon after the civil war, the peoples’ lives in the South are seen to improve significantly except that of Abner’s family (Faulkner, 1977). Abner is therefore seen resenting the mischief of not being prosperous instead of embracing a virtue of diligence to phase out poverty. Abner invidiously responds to his lack of satisfaction by sorting to annihilate the properties belonging to the wealthy landlords. He had a tacit nature of believing that the community or the rich’s society owed him a life he could not afford. Eventually, he responds to the act of society suppressing him by burning the barn as a form of retaliation to perceived maltreatment by the authorities. 

Conclusion 

There are repercussions to bad choices in life. Abner Snopes, for instance, is involved in a series of irrational decisions that hurt him. He is depicted to be envious of his landowners and pained by the fact that he cannot be like them. Faulkner tells of an emotional disparity between Sarty and his father when he realizes his father’s desire to burn the barns of wealthy landlords. Sarty is comprehensively aware of the implication of burning barns. Abner’s feeling that the landowners were superior to him drove him into generating thoughts disdain, inferiority, and rage. As a result, his family is perpetually chased in every town they visit and forced to adopt a nomadic kind of life. 

Reference 

Faulkner, W. (1977).  Barn Burning . United States Information Agency, Television and Film Service.