Reading Response# 3

Rubaiyat Hossain

Reading Response#3

English102

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?

     ‘Barn burning’ story set somewhat after the civil war, begins in a courtyard where the character named ‘Sarty (Colonel Sartoris Snopes)’ is awaiting for the trial of his father, Abner Snopes. Abner Snopes is accused for burning down Mr. Harris’s barn. The judge calls up Sarty to testify against his father but his young age puts him away to go against his family and the judge asks Abner to leave the country the very day and never to show up again. Abner, his son Sarty, his wife and sarty’s aunt along with two of his sisters got into their family wagon with all their worthless goods, started to journey for unknown destination. Usually Sarty is curious about these journeys but his father’s current situation stopped him from asking where they were heading. At night while they were camping Abner woke up Sarty and asked to follow him. Abner slaps him with the flat of his hand on Sarty’s head. He mentions the importance of sticking with the family no matter what and never to go against it regarding the trial. The following day they reached the destination where Abner was supposed to get a job at Mr. de Spain’s farm/mansion. While they entered to speak with de Spain, Sarty steps on a pile of poop and steps on Mr. De Spain’s expensive rug.  MR. De Spain finds out and tells Abner to clean the rug for him. Not being satisfied with the cleaning de Spain charges Abner with extra corn to pay for the rug and takes the matter to the local court. The court decides that Abner must pay at least the half of what de Spain demanded. Furious Abner decides to burn down de Spain’s farm the following night. Knowing Abner’s intention tries to save the farm by running towards de Spain’s mansion. Before he could notify de Spain in time he hears three gun shots and sees Abner lying next the dirt road. Assuming his father death he flees the situation and decides to never look back again.

   Abner's characteristics as the narrator describes is very short tempered and ignorant. He probably has done this sort of incidents before but this time it didn't end up good for him. Since Abner and his family didn't have a good reputation in the society he insisted of putting the relationship between his family members up most and always to have each other's back. Abner, being the head of the family, always had to put himself ahead for the sake of his wife and children.