Barn Burning: The Struggle with Moral Awareness

Barn Burning: The Struggle with Moral Awareness

It has often been said that young boys either emulate their fathers, or the strong male figure involved in their upbringing. Some boys become exactly what their fathers have scripted them to be while others develop their own sense of identity and the capability to discern between right and wrong. William Faulkner's Barn Burning is a portrayal of a young boy's conflict between either being loyal to blood or doing what he inherently believes is right.

Sarty's moral dilemma is brought to light, early in the story, in a makeshift courtroom where his father, Abner Snopes, is being accused of burning down Mr. Harris' barn. Sarty refers to this situation, as the "pull of blood" (85) as he has to sit and defend his father's actions. This implies that he is aware that his father's actions are morally wrong, but feels an obligation to support him because he is family. His predicament is compounded when he is called to testify. Sensing that his father expects him to remain loyal to blood despite his crimes, he nervously walks by his father thinking "he aims for me to lie, [...] And I will have to do hit" (86). Sarty's nervous behavior while on the stand makes it obvious to Mr. Snopes that his son is about to admit his guilt. Later, he scolded and slapped young Sarty while shouting, "You were going to tell them. You would have told him" (88). Mr. Snopes obviously senses the need to remind Sarty that, "You got to learn to stick to your own blood or you ain't going to have any blood to stick to you." (88). Sarty's confusion is illustrated, once again, after being on the receiving end of his father's tirade. He thinks "If I had said they wanted only the truth, justice, he would have hit me again" (88).

Sarty continues to be troubled by his father's actions. In one instance, he is preaching loyalty; and in the next instance, he contradicts himself by betraying everyone and anyone in his path - except family. Despite this contradiction, Sarty still holds on to the hope that one day his father will stop burning barns. He thinks "Forever [...] Maybe he's done satisfied now" now that he has . . ." (87), but he stops short of his thought and realizes that he can not admit his father's senseless crimes to himself. He thinks to himself as he wonders where they were going to end up, "[He] already arranged to make a crop on another farm before he . . ." (87). It is apparent that omission of each of these sentences is "burned down another barn" which vividly display Sarty's moral conflict. After seeing the De Spain's house for the first time, Sarty has a revelation, "[...] at that instant he forgot his father and the terror and despair both, and even when he remembered his father again [...] the terror and despair did not return." (89), which signifies the beginning of a change in Sarty's views on his father; for the first time, he sees true peace and beauty. Coincidently, this is the first time where he is able to put aside all of the terrifying conflicting feelings brought about by his father.

This inner peace, which has overcome Sarty, is a feeling that he hopes would overtake his father also. Thinking 'Maybe he will feel it too. Maybe it will even change him now from what maybe he couldn't help but be" (89). Of course, this turns out to be just wishful thinking because his father continues to disrespect everyone whom does not share his "blood". While walking to the De Spain's home, he watches "his fathers stiff foot come squarely down in a pile of fresh [horse] droppings [...], which [he] could have