Max Coats Mrs. Varnado English 102 5th Hour 30 January 2012 The Real Man in “Barn Burning” In William Faulkner's short story “Barn Burning” there is an underlying transformation Sarty Snopes undergoes that is not necessarily put into focus for most readers.
The situations Sarty finds himself in throughout the story are of the kind which shape him and require him to grow as both a person as well as in the mind of the reader. The changes in which Sarty undergoes throughout the story closely resemble the kind of changes that would be thought to be 'coming of age' transitions.In the beginning of the story the reader is immediately introduced to a young and somewhat distrot Sarty Snopes. Evidence of his detached nature can be found in the opening scene of the story. In the scene Sarty is attending his fathers, Abner Snopes, trial for allegedly burning down a fellow farmer's barn, but throughout the session is unable to stay focused on the matter at hand opting instead to turn his attention toward his sense of smell which filled his thoughts with cheese.Also found in this first scene is that Sarty's thoughts actions, and opinions are for the most part dominated by his father.
For example, when Sarty is called by the Justice of the Peace to testify he automatically thinks to himself, “Enemy! Enemy! ” (Faulkner 187), almost like it has been engraved in his mind that everyone is out to get his father. Clearly, judging by the beginning of the story Sarty has plenty of growing up to do before the reader sees him as anything but just a kid. However, as the story progresses Sarty begins to go through subtle changes that the reader can pick up on.These changes really begin when Sarty actually starts to analyze his father. Thinking about why he is the way he is Sarty recalls his father and how he used to steal horses and sell them during the civil war from both sides. This shows that Sarty may be questioning his father’s methods and whether or not he approves of his actions.
He soon shows the reader that he does not necessarily agree with his father when he thinks back to the barn burning incident saying, “If I had said they wanted only truth, justice, he would have hit me again” (Faulkner 189).All of these examples show that Sarty has begun his coming of age journey by becoming an independent thinker, and allowing himself to define the lines between right and wrong instead of letting his father overshadow how he thinks. Sarty's next step of growing up comes later on when his father messes up Major de Spain's rug and succeeds in ruining it while cleaning it. When Major de Spain insists that Abner pay for the damages with twenty bushels of corn Sarty quickly reacts by saying he will hide the bushels so that Major de Spain won't get it.
He does this as an attempt to keep his father from burning down Major's barn because he knows that is his fathers since of justice. Finally, Sarty's coming of age transformation is complete when at the end of the story he decides to act on his own accord to defend what he believes is right. His father is going to do what he has always done and burn down Major's barn. When Sarty realizes what his father intends to do he runs to Major de Spain's house to warn him.This action indicates that Sarty has finally broken free from his father and is willing to stand on his own foundation.
In conclusion, from being a passive son, to being critical, and then later taking action Sarty has truly made a metamorphosis. When looking at the story it is important to pay close attention to how Sarty has grown and taken on a more critical and grown up position throughout the story. Work Cited Faulkner, William. “Barn Burning. ” The Norton Introduction to Literature. 10th Ed.
New York: W. W. Norton &, 2012. 186-198.
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