William Faulkner is concerned with the south and its problems with black slavery. The issues in Barn Burning deal with the conflict between father and son. The theme of this story focuses on justice. The boy, Sarty, objects to his father burning barns and wants people to be treated fairly. His father, Abner, believes his son should respect and support kin. Abner thinks family is right no matter what. Faulkner's intent is to show that choosing between one's own family and justice is very difficult to do, and in the end justice must prevail. The theme is best illustrated by its point of view, its characterization, and setting.
Faulkner represents his point of view using both first and third person to translate his theme. The story is being told by Sartoris Snopes who is a boy at the tim
The setting in Barn Burning also greatly illustrates the theme. The story takes place during black slavery and reconstruction in the south around the 1890s in a town called Yoknapatawpha. This in itself gives the reader an idea of the conflict that will arise in the story. The setting focuses on one thing for the boy Sartoris - justice. From the beginning in the courthouse to his walk to Major DeSpain's house he walks toward justice while his father is heads in the opposite direction. This presents the conflict between them.
In Barn Burning the major theme is the conflict between father and son who portray family and justice respectively. Throughout the story this theme is illustrated by its point of view, its characterization, and its setting. Faulkner uses this approach to illustrat
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