Barn Burning Themes
The main themes in "Barn Burning" are loyalty, betrayal, anger, and morality.
- Loyalty and betrayal: Sarty Snopes faces a moral dilemma: to be loyal to his father or to betray the family by warning Major de Spain about the planned barn burning.
- Anger: Abner Snopes resents anyone of a higher social station. He's quick to take offense and his anger is always destructive, no matter how misplaced it may be.
- Morality: Sarty Snopes begin the story on the cusp of moral independence. However, in order to act on his own morals, he must also distance himself from his immoral family.
Themes: All Themes
Themes: Alienation and Loneliness
In "Barn Burning," Faulkner presents a young boy on the verge of understanding morality, who feels disconnected from the wider social world he is starting to perceive. This feeling of isolation is deepened by Sarty's relationship with his father, who should ideally act as a moral mentor and a bridge into society for the child. However, because of his father's reckless and criminal actions, Sarty becomes the target of an insult early in the...
(Read more)Themes: Anger and Hatred
Abner Snopes embodies constant anger, always poised to take offense, particularly against those he considers socially superior (which encompasses most individuals due to his low socio-economic status). Ab is ensnared in a loop of personal vengeance, and his cruel demeanor appears to play a major role in his family's hardships. Readers encounter the anger of other characters too, but this anger is often warranted, as illustrated by the exasperated...
(Read more)Themes: Loyalty and Betrayal
Abner employs a crude psychological strategy to ensure his family's compliance with his warped lifestyle by stressing the importance of family loyalty. This is highlighted in Sarty's internal monologue during the initial court scene about enemies, "mine and hisn both." However, this reflects a skewed perception of loyalty, as there is no moral duty to be unconditionally loyal to anyone, not even parents. Abner's criminal behavior frees Sarty...
(Read more)Themes: Morals and Morality
Morality centers on the idea of mutual respect among people and is captured by "The Golden Rule," which advises treating others as you would wish to be treated. Ab Snopes repeatedly and intentionally breaks this rule. He mistreats his son, controls his wife, starts disputes with innocent individuals, and engages in arson. During his time as a soldier, he was similarly ruthless and self-serving, enlisting mainly to take advantage of opportunities...
(Read more)Themes: Order and Disorder
Abner Snopes's life, marked by constant moves due to conflicts and the meager belongings of his family, symbolizes a life filled with chaotic violence. Abner cannot integrate into any societal structure; even as a soldier, he was driven by self-interest. His tendency to set barns on fire reflects his aggressive resistance to social order. In contrast, Sarty chooses order over chaos, particularly evident in the initial courtroom scene when Mr....
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Literary Techniques, Themes, and Conflicts in "Barn Burning"
William Faulkner's "Barn Burning" explores conflicts and themes centered on familial loyalty, moral integrity, and social class tensions. The primary conflict is between Sarty and his father, Abner, as Sarty grapples with his loyalty to family versus his moral compass. The story also examines Abner's conflict with society, highlighting his resentment towards higher social classes. Literary techniques such as dramatic irony and foreshadowing enhance the narrative, while themes of rage and the inescapable past underscore the Southern Gothic mood.
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