Marco Velasquez

Prof. Black

The Family Casualty of “Barn Burning”

The way a family influences the development of a child will alter the life of that

child into adulthood, this is a proven fact of basic developmental psychology. So when

one stumbles across a family life like that of Snopes in William Faulkner’s “Barn

Burning”, the seriousness of this fact truly becomes evident. The petty conflicts that the

youngest son, Sarty, is exposed to, can only model a short temper and rash choices, and

when it comes to conflict resolution, there are some real issues in the brew. And perhaps

most detrimental is the constant demand of loyalty from a deranged and oppressive

patriarch. No child could survive this barrage on the psyche, and the story speaks for

itself.

Abner Snopes is a petty, begrudging, old codger of a man, his mind is filled with

feelings of resentment and ill-intent, so it is clear that any conflict he is exposed to would

only escalate until it leaves him with no exit but his trusted tool: the flame. Abner is an

arsonist as it were, and problems that he can’t solve get a cool douse of kerosene and a

match to erase the issue. His first major dilemma is over his neighbor’s, hog getting into

his corn. After failing to swindle his neighbor, Mr. Harris for the cost of the hog by the

pound, Abner threatens that “wood and hay can burn”, an obvious threat of arson. He

later proves his claim.

When Abner burns his offenders properties, he is trying to burn down their

oppression and take control of the life of himself and his family, but what is the cost to

the family? They must deal with the consequences of Abner’s destructive nature, forced

out of their homes and uprooted from their lives every time Abner can’t fix a problem.
The example he is modeling is that a life of destruction is the only way to escape a life of

turmoil, being brought away to a clean slate when the one around them is obscured by

hate. This life can only breed domestic anti-authoritarian terrorists.

“If you don’t stick to your blood, it don’t stick to you”, that is the warning to

Sarty, this is the warning from a man who constantly shows his family disdain, and

callous. How can a message of loyalty be led with an example of hatred and violence?

Abner abuses and belittles his family, only thinking of his next prideful act of defiance

against his oppressors. He intentionally destroys opportunities for a better life, when he

wipes excrement on the lovely rug of his sharecrop provider, Major de Spain, once again

provoking needless petty conflicts that will have consequences for not just him alone. He

is unable to think of those outside himself and he will eventually be the downfall of the

family.

Abner Snopes is not a good father; he is a twisted manipulator who spouts

messages of loyalty paired with selfish acts of violence to create a chaotic and ever hectic

life for he and his family. In the end not even he can stand by his creed, as he washes off

his own blood, so does he wash himself of his familial bonds and runs away, never to be

seen.