Barn Burning - Sartys Struggle Essay -- essays papers

Barn Burning Sartys StruggleBarn Burning Sartys StruggleThe theme of William Faulkners Barn Burning is Colonel Sartoris Snopes desire to shift key away from the oppressive conditions of his family life. He is pulled between his family and his morality. In this essay, I allow discuss Sartys struggle between the two sides of his conflict and the point at which it becomes resolved.First, we will look at Sartys pull towards his family. At the first trial, we find Sarty looking at his fathers opponent sitting behind the table. Sarty identifies him as his fathers enemy, but he quickly changes his thought to our enemy. Then after the trial, Sarty fights a boy twice his size because the boy yells out, Barn Burner. These two instances are attempts by Sarty to contain himself into his family. He feels he might be able to do this by taking up his fathers offense. Later in the story, after Abner has ruined the rug, Sarty says to his father, You done the outdo you could If he wanted hit d one different why didnt he wait and tell you how He wont stern no twenty bushels He wont git none Well gether hit and hide hit This is another attempt by Sarty to find his place. Although he knows his father is guilty of ruining the rug, he is willing to ease his father hide the crop to avoid paying damages. His father, Abner, even tries to influence Sartys decision. After camping the first night, Abner takes Sarty aside and tells him, You got to learn. You got to learn to stick to your own assembly line or you aint going to have any blood to stick to you. These attempts to defend his family and his father in particular are his way of exploring this realm of his conflict. He is onerous to find out if there is a place for him. H... ... is at this point that Abner realizes that he has made his decision. Abner tries to contain him by having his mother hold him but Sarty gets kick and runs to warn the de Spains. It is at this point that we know the end to the conflict has arri ved. Instead of running back to the house to help with the fire, Sarty runs into the wood and continues to run. He is leaving and he is not looking back. He decides to stand on the side of morality and turns his back on his family.Sartoris Snope resolved his dilemma by exploring both sides of the coin. He thence found something that represents his ideal situation, the de Spain plantation. Then he made his decision and he did not look back. The conflict that Faulkner brings to life in the Barn Burning is not uncommon. We each face a similar struggle at some point to find our morality. It is simply part of the human condition.