The defining characteristic of Abner Snopes is socioeconomic disempowerment. He is a travelling casual laborer who nutures a chronic sense of hatred and desire for vengance towards his employers. His sense of resentment leads to his being a bad worker, and commiting a series of acts which express his efforts to assert his contempt and hatred for his employers (such as muddyiong the rug with his boots) that get him fired. He reacts to this situation by asserting control and revenge by setting fire to their barns, compensating for his lack of power over his employment situation and lack of social power by using the power of fire as a force of destruction and control against the rich and powerful.