What are we to take from this story? What is the central theme or message you got from the story?Barn Burning by William Faulkner

        After I read this story, I thought that the father, Abner wanted his son Colonel Snopes to learn to protect and be there for his family at all times, whether bad or good. I think the general message of this story would be based on this very concept showing great loyalty towards your family. In paragraph fifteen,  Mr. Snokes told his son "You're getting to be a man. 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 tried to enforce this in his son and make him think and act this way. Just after the fire the family were packed and headed to some place away from home. "The wagon went on. He did not know where they were going....." They are constantly on the move. I think Mr. Snokes burns peoples houses and then have his family cover his acts which is not the ideal thing to do as a father. Instead of supporting his family, he forces them to act the way he like and very abusive towards them. His way of doing this is not the best. He would be very violent and harsh towards his son for doing wrong. Towards the ending of the story before Snopes ran away he was about to be beaten by his father. His brother's remarks were "Better tie him to the bedpost". I think he was so used to seeing his brother be beaten that he knew exactly what happens. Or maybe he knew exactly what to expect since it happens to him too. At the very beginning of this story when the barn was burnt he wanted his son to lie for him in court. I think in Mr. Abner's mind he feels don't matter if the person do a wrong or even commit a crime as long as its your blood you must always stand by them you are to lie if you have to even if its in the legal system. I think he was angry at Snokes after the court day and throughout the story we saw how he expressed these feelings.
       I loved the end of the story after Snokes ran away. I kept reading over and over when he finally sat in the cold and dark alone (which for most children even adults are afraid of) and nothing scared him. Even being hungry didn't matter to him. His determination and freedom ahead of him took control over his mind. He sat there trying to understand his father. For a moment it made me think he would have went back home but he didn't.  "He did not look back" (last line). Snokes walked away from everything. Everything that his father practically forced onto him. I was happy that he found loyalty towards himself and his life at the end of this horrible way of life.