Overview of Barn Burning Essay

In the interesting dynamic story of Barn Burning by William Faulkner, Sartoris finds himself between a rock and a hard place. There seems to be a sense of moral code between the Snopes family. It is a different sense of moral codeit is more of an utter loyalty to the family vs. whats actually wrong and right. Their whole family exhibits a sense of being on the outskirts of society and not really socially accepted is what I take from it. William Faulkners characters in Barn Burning are possessed, driven to pursue high ideals, yet weighted down with awareness of their inadequacies and their sinfulness.

Sartoris is constantly overwhelmed with fear, despair, and grief. He is always at a constant battle within himself. Sartoriss loyalty is never completely shaken. I believe Sartoris is a hero. Sartoris always respected his father from the very beginning and was proud to be his son. He lied in front of a court judge for him. You begin to see that after they filed away out of town, Sarty begins to question his fathers intentions and foolish ways. I still believe that he was still optimistic especially after reaching their new lavish living grounds. It was apparent he wanted his father to feel the happiness, joy, and calmness of new living quarters.

Sarty pities his father for not being able to control himself to an extent. Despite all of those feelings and transgressions his father is bringing to the whole family, Sarty still manages to obey him. When Sarty was going to get oil for his father he thought to himself, I could keep on...I could run on and on and never look back, never need to see his face again. Only I cant. I cant. That was the turning point for Sarty, as it was the final time he shows any respect for his father and his deeds.

Sarty is an evident dynamic character. In the final scenes after the final straws have been chewed upon Sarty embarks on a new journey. He has found a quieter, more subtle form of happiness. He at first loved and defended his father, but later turned against him and his lunacy. He ended up playing the smarter cards, and sometimes you have to defend for what you know in your heart is right. He ended in a more peaceful journey for himself, which is very heroic.