William Faulkner's 'Barn Burning'

Words: 853
Pages: 4

Topic 1 Home (what it offers, its limitations, its sorrows)
"Barn Burning" By William Faulkner
“Barn Burning” is a story, which goes down in the store of a country. It begins when Sarty gets into the store craving for the cheese and meat since he was hungry. At the back is the structure known as Justice of the Peace Court, which serves the town people. As Sarty is in the store, he realizes that his father too is on the side doubling the room that is the court, having been accused of engaging in the act of burning down the barn belonging to Mr. Harris. When the court calls Sarty to provide his testimony regarding whether the father burned the barn or not, the parties (Harris and the Justice) consider relieving the boy of the load knowing very
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Snopes (the father) that he moves out of the country and is not expected to come back at any given time. As Sarty moves out of the court after being released, a kid provokes him by calling him “Barn Burner,” which leaves him on the ground and as he tries to follow the kid chasing after him, but the father takes charges to stop him from indulging in such an act. “On the way out of the courthouse a kid calls Sarty “Barn Burner” and knocks him down, twice” (Faulkner 16). In the process, Sarty’s two sisters, his mother, and the aunt are in the family wagon where they are waiting for the father and the older brother. While camping, Sarty sleep and the father is the one who wakes him up and hits the boy for depicting a sense of betrayal in the court. The family gets home the following day, which is, however, a new one. It also comprises of a shack that would be of great importance for farming activities. In this essence, it seems the home is a central place for facilitating the operations of tenant …show more content…
Abner is innocent and that he was not the one who engaged in burning of the barns. After the proceedings, the Justice finds out that Mr. Abner was the one involved in damaging the rug but decides to reduce the fee from twenty to ten corn bushels. Therefore, it seems his plea has been answered as the father and his two sons wait for the sunset before returning home. Notwithstanding a range of activities that had taken place at the home thereby leading to court cases, Snopes still tries to burn the barn belonging to De Spain. The mother stops him, and when Sarty realizes whatever is happening, he intends to inform the owner so that he becomes aware of the undertaking. Conversely, a sorrowful act is evident at home when the mother holds Sarty tight to prevent him from disseminating the message to de Spain regarding the planned action of the father. However, this does not stop the boy as he frees himself from the mother’s arms and gets to the house of the barn’s owner (Faulkner 70). After informing de Spain, Sarty tends to suffer as he enters a ditch while running back home towards where the barn was located. Moreover, at home, Lennie, Sarty’s sister seems to suffer from the violent acts her husband. The whole family is affected by the actions of Snobes thereby leading to poverty as well as crime, which do not favor the members at