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Sarty Snopes In William Faulkner's Barn Burning

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William Faulkners “Barn Burning was published in 1939 and is set in the Old American South at around 1897. Faulkner’s short story focusses on the Snopes families daily struggles and is told from the perspective of what seems to be an older version of Sarty Snopes himself speaking in third person. William Faulkner uses real issues such as social class, poor economy, gender equality and race relations throughout “Barn Burning” in order to help his reader understand the anger, hardships, family dynamic and erratic rebellion of Abner Snopes and his family as they struggle with the acceptance of emancipation and feelings of being oppressed by southern society. William Faulkner grew up on a plantation during the 1900s. He was able to see first hand …show more content…

Abner snopes is a sharecropper with Major De Spain who owns a large plantation and has a nice large home. Upon arrival to Major De Spains estate, Abner notices that the doorman/butler is African American and was more than likely a former slave. He comes to the conclusion that the former slave is probably making more money than he is and is living more comfortably than he and his family are. Abner is outraged by this and deliberately steps in animal poop and purposefully tracks it inside onto De Spains nice carpet showing his disgust in hopes that the doorman will be forced to clean it up (Faulkner).” I believe that Abner does this to make himself feel as if he is higher up socially than the former slave. This is what ignites the flame in Abners mind and makes him feel even more oppressed by southern society. He feels that he is being treated unfairly and cannot accept the emancipation proclamation. “De Spain has the rug brought to his family to clean. Abners sets his two teenage girls to work on the cleaning, but he shortly takes over and intentionally destroys the rug with a rock. De Spain tells Abner that he will be taking 20 bushels of his next crop in order to make up for the damages. Abner again is outraged by the amount he is charged with and takes De Spain to court. Abners charge is lessened to 10 bushels yet he still is furious and feels he's being treated unfairly. Shortly after, he burns De Spains barn and is most likely killed by De Spain himself after Sarty told him Abner was setting is barn on fire(Faulkner).” Although there are other ways Abner could have made his feelings of oppression be known, he chose to act irrationally and intentionally burned his barn in hopes of getting his point across. Over all Abners character in “Barn Burning” represents the poor white families in the old south at this time. Faulkner has done a beautiful job making one feel

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