The Importance Of Setting In Faulkner's Barn Burning

In “Barn Burning,” setting proves to be an important element. The moral of the story depends on it, as Faulkner wanted to make a statement on what the South was becoming. Mary Ellen Byrne writes, “at this time the Old South was withering away from its own decadence and sin. . .” (Byrne 5). The South’s traditional values were in decline, and the so-called ‘redneck’ was on the rise. The editors of Short Stories for Students write, “this is a setting of intense vulnerability and therefore of intense resentment,” (Akers and Moore 9). At this point in time, lower class caucasians were becoming more common. Of course, many felt entitled to success due to the course of history thus far. Consequently, Abner Snopes feels resentment towards almost everyone he encounters.

The perspective switches between an omniscient narrator and Sarty. A narrator is essential to clear up any information that Sarty fails to understand. This point of view gives heed to the use of irony. The editors of Short Stories for Students writes, “. . . sharing Sarty’s immediate impressions and judgements forces a strong unbreakable bond between the boy and the reader,” (Akers and Moore 9). Whenever Sarty’s point of view is addressed, the audience may see how his innocence is being corrupted over the course the story. William Faulkner writes in “Barn Burning,” “Maybe he will feel it too. Maybe it will even change him now from what maybe he couldn’t help but be,” (Faulkner 6). A reader cannot help but feel hopeful that a change will occur in Abner for Sarty’s