Barn Burning by William Faulkner
"Barn Burning " describes the development of Colonel Sartoris Snopes (Sarty) with his coming to manhood and the concomitant rejection of his father (Mr Snopes). From the beginning of the story, we witness the growing conflict between the two characters which is identified from the beginning of the text with the boy's anxiety. Nevertheless, through this latent emotional (and physical) rebellion, what the boy comes through is the discovery of evil, embodied by the patriarchal figure whose destructive will seems to control everyone and everything. This desperate situation tears the boy in two because he doesn't seem able to chose between "the old fierce of blood" ( the fidelity to his father) and his thrust towards justice and truth. We will see that "Barn Burning" is actually the story of an initiation that will lead to the boy's final refusal to help and support his father. By denouncing this one, Sarty will claim his own individuality and will gain his independence and freedom. The opposition of sharecropper (Mr Snopes) and aristocrat (Mr de Spain) suggests social implications. Several elements refer to this possibility. The father points out that de Spain's house is built with "nigger
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Some common words found in the essay are:
Barn Burning, Ms Snopes, God Abner, Abner Snopes, Heaven Hell, De Spain's, Snopes Sarty, Spain Sarty, de spain, barn burning, de spain's, cold violence, truth justice, abner snopes, rest mankind, fierce blood, gain freedom, warning de spain, own individuality, Oh God,
Approximate Word count = 2173
Approximate Pages = 9 (250 words per page double spaced)
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