Examples Of Family Loyalty In Barn Burning

Family Loyalty
In William Faulkner’s short story “Barn Burning,” ten-year-old Sarty Snopes faces many challenges in regards to his upbringing. He has witnessed his father’s destructive and illegal behavior for many years, and Sarty makes a difficult decision in the end to choose morality and the good of others over the well-being or protection of his own father. Although many believe that allegiance to family should have precedence in every circumstance, there comes a time when corrupt familial cycles require a brave member to rise above the boundaries of kinship for a noble cause; therefore, Sarty was justified, although not without consequence, in his decision to tell of his father’s disastrous plans to burn de Spain’s barn.
Initially, the narrator introduces Colonel Satoris Snopes, “Sarty,” in a courtroom. Sarty’s father is standing trial for burning down another man’s barn, and Sarty is scheduled to testify regarding the supposed incident. The victim and Justice have mercy on the sensitive predicament that Sarty is in and relinquish him from testifying for or against his
This view is not unique nor is it a modern approach. From biblical times to today, women continue to protect the secrets of their husband’s infidelity, children are encouraged not to tell of the abuses they endure, and mothers defend their sons and daughters regardless of the circumstance. This narrow and crooked perspective has encouraged negative conduct for centuries. However, wrong is wrong, and oftentimes the only person that can aid the victims of mistreatment is the family of the offender. It is often the family of the culprit that knows the most intimate details of the incident, therefore, their knowledge and compliance is essential to not only safeguarding the victim, but also ending the cycle of destructive and harmful