William Faulkner and Barn Burning

“Rebellion, against not only rationalism but also against all traditional modes of understanding humanity, is the attitude forming the artistic backdrop as the twentieth-century begins. The perspective of the “modern” and of modernism in literature is that the rationalist project fails to produce answers to the deepest human questions, is doomed to failure, and that we are on our own for seeking answers to questions about human meaning.” (Mr. John Mays) Sarty Snopes in William Faulkner’s Barn Burning, explores these questions of human meaning, which ultimately classifies this modernistic short story. The dichotomy and differences between Sarty and Abner Snopes creates an undeniable tension within the character of Sarty, while he battles himself in order to decide which is more important: that which is right, or sticking to your own blood. The characters of Sarty and Abner embody the renewed modern man and his flawed predecessor respectively; once Sarty understands this, he is then able to see that he has the ability to break the blood bonds which are holding him back, and in this, realizes the fragile state of his power and powerlessness.
The story begins with Abner Snopes on trial for barn burning. Faulkner immediately establishes the character of the predecessor as a vile man, characterized by his “ravening and jealous rage.” (2182) And predictably, his business with barn burning was not an uncommon offense. Faulkner says, “But he did not think this now and he has seen those same niggard blazes all his life.” (2180) Ab Snopes tries ruthlessly to also make his son his equal, “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.” (2180-81) This blood bond between Sarty and Abner proves to be their only form of connection, and causes the conflict which Sarty confronts in Barn Burning. Abner embodies the flawed predecessors which give way to defining the modern man. The