Sartys Point of View in Barn Burning by William Faulkner...

Sartys Point of View in Barn Burning by William Faulkner William Faulkner elected to write â€Å"Barn Burning† from his young character Sarty’s perspective because his sense of morality and decency would present a more plausible conflict in this story. Abner Snopes inability to feel the level of remorse needed to generate a truly moral predicament in this story, sheds light on Sarty’s efforts to overcome the constant â€Å"pull of blood†(277) that forces him to remain loyal to his father. As a result, this reveals the hidden contempt and fear Sarty has developed over the years because of Abner’s behavior. Sarty’s struggle to maintain an understanding of morality while clinging to the fading idolization of a father he fears, sets the tone†¦show more content†¦He is even more afraid of losing his father’s trust after Abner hits him â€Å"hard but with out heat†(280) not for telling the truth, but for wanting to. Sarty is conscious of the fact that if Abner knew his desire fo r â€Å"truth, justice, he would have hit†(280) him again and that Abner’s recommendation that he â€Å"learn to stick to† his â€Å"own blood or you ain’t going to have any blood to stick to you†(280) is more of a threat rather than fatherly advice. Sarty learns to stifle any qualms he has and overlook his own developing morals in order to defend his father’s cold-blooded attacks. In the face of Abner’s â€Å"outrage and savagery and lust†(286) and the ever-present conflict these emotional outbursts cause, Sarty’s sense of obligation to his father out weighs his desire to â€Å"run on and on and never look back†(286). He hopes being forced out of town will transform the side of Abner that possesses an â€Å"inherent [ly] voracious prodigality with material not his own†(279) and he will be satisfied once and for all. As father and son walk within sight of an impressive manor â€Å"big as a courthouseâ₠¬ (280) owned by Major de Spain, a wealthy landowner with whom Abner has struck a deal to farm corn on his land, Sarty knows at once that â€Å"they are safe from him†(280). His father’s â€Å"ravening†(281) envy could not possibly touch these â€Å"people whose lives are part of this peace and dignity†(281). But, Abner is seething with â€Å"jealous rage†(281) at the sight of the de SpainShow MoreRelatedDeeper Insight by Use of Point of View - Summary1074 Words   |  5 PagesDeeper Insight by Use of Point of View The majority of authors use literary elements to build up their story. However, the author of the short story â€Å"Barn Burning† uses one particular element to build up his own story in a very unique format. William Faulkner uses various literary elements in the story, but the most critical one is point of view. 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Some literary elements are small and almost inconsequential while others are large and all-encompassing: the mothers broken clock, a small and seemingly insignificant object, is used so carefully, extracting the maximum effect; the subtle, but more frequent use of dialectalRead More Setting in William Faulkners Barn Burning Essay1584 Words   |  7 PagesCritical Viewing on Barn Burning William Faulkner’s use of a setting in a short story, such as â€Å"Barn Burning†, effected the entire outcome of the story from start to finish. In â€Å"Barn Burning†, a young boy must face his father and face the reality of a harsh world. He must also discover for himself that his father is wrong and learn to grow up the right way in a racial environment. 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