Barn Burning Group

Question:

mskitty43
mskitty43
Student
Community / Jr. College

How does Sarty's character develop from immaturity to maturity, and what lesson does he learn? 

My question is in reference to the initiation of Sarty's growth and development.

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Posted by mskitty43 on Monday January 14, 2008 at 3:05 PM and tagged with barn burning, character, morality, sarty, themes.

Answers:


  1. bmadnick Teacher
    High School - 11th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    Sarty's development and growth are tied directly to the themes of morality and order. All Sarty has been exposed to in his father's world is immorality and disorder. We know, however, at the beginning of the story, that Sarty is an intelligent young man who is on the verge of realizing that his father's way of doing things is wrong, both legally and morally.  Sarty is becoming aware of the world outside of the one in which he's been raised, and this awareness helps him to make a difficult decision in the end. Abner, Sarty's father, has taught his family to be loyal to him, but he shows none to them. The family must lie for Abner and endure his cruelty, and this is why Sarty betrays his father in the end. Sarty trades his life with his father for one where morality and order are the norm. In the end, he feels he no longer owes loyalty to his father and is liberated by his decision.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/barn-burning/themes

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    Posted by bmadnick on Friday January 18, 2008 at 2:04 PM