Nancy Wood Ms. Worthington Eng 102 Feb. 14th, 2013 Analysis Of Barn Burning-William Faulkner How is the setting in the Barn Burning southern? There are many things that prove this story is very southern and they are as follows: the use of the word N___er, reference “share cropping after the Civil War”, (The History Channel) a Nigro servant in what is plainly an Plantation like house, the father was in the war as an Confederate soldier, and several stereo typical southern references as well as the use of common southern accents.. The use of “N___er” (AFRAKA) is used multiple times in this story.
It is used openly and without shame in regard to any person of color referenced in the story. This term is not as acceptable as it used to be, in reference to people of color, the term black is acceptable now in the south even though it doesn’t matter what one’s skin color is, we are in fact equal. “It is probable that n---er is a phonetic spelling of the white southern mispronunciation of nego” The family that is the focus of this story is sharecroppers, Landless laborers who rent land from landowners in return for a portion of their crop.
The sharecropping system was developed as a way for landowners to establish a work force after the abolition of slavery in the south. To this day landowners still rent their land to the landless so that both can make a profit. Plantation houses of the classic antebellum style are indicative of the southern society before and after the civil war. The one referenced in the story is described as huge and white such as the antebellum style. It is indicated to be of the plantation by a comment by the father. “Pretty and white ain’t it, that sweat n___er sweat, maybe it ain’t white enough yet to suit him. . ” (Faulkner)” The father was indicated as being in the civil war. He was supposed to have been in “colonel satoris cav’ry”(calvary). It was stated at the end of the story that the father had been a “Malbrouck” a soldier who had no loyalty to superiors flag or country and simply used the instance of war to rob and sell anything he could get his hands on for his own gain. He even named his own son Colonel Satoris Snopes in reference to his days as a soldier. As with the other stuff to prove southern tone, we have the whipper-whirl (bird which is known for a destintive call) and named for as such.
Cherokee roses are growing all around the area around the landscape, they are also accept along the southern landscape as well. This story portrays southerners as uneducated at times, including words as mis-pronounicatins, such as Nigro being N___er, a final indenication is that people with that background of education, well all was a true miscommunication at the times. The main character’s sister showed the most misuncomprohensable remark as a” remark of ignorce. ” (Faulkner) As one that live or have lived in that time, I am sure our predessors have been greatly improve on their attitudes and their beliefs.
As I would not have approved of all of this except I wasn’t alive at the time. With the exception of great, great, great grand-parents that wouldn’t have seen it from my eyes. Bibliography AFRAKA. n. d. 13 Feb. 2013 <www. afraka. com>. Faulkner, William. Barn Burning. Harpers, 1939. The History Channel. n. d. 13 Feb. 2013 <www. history. com>. Works Cited AFRAKA. n. d. 13 Feb. 2013 <www. afraka. com>. Faulkner, William. Barn Burning. Harpers, 1939. The History Channel. n. d. 13 Feb. 2013 <www. history. com>.
