"Barn Burning"

Analytical Essay # 60337

English > Analysis
Literature > American

"Barn Burning"

Examines character and setting in William Faulkner's "Barn Burning".

790 words () | 1 source | MLA | 2005 United States

Paper Summary:

In William Faulkner's "Barn Burning," the theme is that sometimes in life, one needs to make difficult choices between justice and loved ones and act upon them in ways that will always lead to maturity-a loss of innocence but a gain of knowledge. This paper shows how this theme is best seen in correlation between character and setting.

From the Paper:

"In the second stage of his maturation, Sarty becomes aware of an alternate life when he discovers an enriched world. When Sarty comes to the de Spains' white house, he "forgot his father and the terror and despair both" (166). He also has a "surge of peace and joy," and Faulkner even repeats Sarty's "peace and joy" to emphasize change (166). Sarty thinks that the de Spains are "safe from [Abner]" and "beyond [Abner's] touch, he no more to them than a buzzing wasp: capable of stinging for a little moment but that's all" (166). As Sarty approaches the de Spains' house, he observes a "grove of oaks and cedars and the other flowering trees and shrubs," and he smells "honeysuckle and Cherokee roses" (166)."