Camilo Arango

RR #3

English 102

Barn Burning by William Faulkner:

  What is the central conflict in this story?  What does it reveal about family dynamics and the socioeconomic status of Abner and his family?

This is the story of Colonel Sarotis Snopes, A young boy who is force to make decisions of what is right and what is wrong. And his father, Abner Snopes, A dominant man, stiff, violent and emotionless as he is usually compare with metal, like in the sentence "...had more than ever that impervious quality of something cut ruthlessly from tin...". Abner Snopes has a rebellious personality; lack values and is fond to take revenge. He is like the ruler of his family and want them to take after him. He tries to impose his sense of morality into Colonel telling him, "You got to learn. You got to learn to stick to your own blood or you ain't going to have any blood to stick to you". He is basically telling him to lie if it's to keep his family together.

This story takes place sometime after the civil war, probably during the Reconstruction Era since there are many sings of racial discrimination and slavery. A time where white farmers were thrown into poverty and many struggled to keep afloat. Their socioeconomic status is faulty. Abner's way of doing things, continuously defying society won't do any good, not for him nor his family. At the beginning, because of his action his family is send away. Moreover, at the end, after his attempt to burn Spain's barn he ends up dead, leaving his family in a dire situation.