Barn Burning by William Faulkner

 

Barn Burning is a short story by William Faulkner that was first published in 1939. It tells the story of Sarty Snopes, a young boy who witnesses his father, Abner Snopes, burn the barns of other farmers as a way of getting revenge. Sarty is torn between his loyalty to his family and his sense of right and wrong, and in the end he chooses to leave his family and start a new life on his own.

The story begins with Sarty and his family attending a court hearing in which Abner is accused of burning Mr. Harris's barn. Sarty knows that his father is guilty, but he is afraid to testify against him. The judge dismisses the charges against Abner, but warns him to leave the county and never come back.

A few weeks later, the Snopes family is camped out on the land of Major de Spain, a wealthy planter. Abner is angered when de Spain's son, Major, refuses to give him a job. That night, Abner sneaks into de Spain's barn and sets it on fire. Sarty sees what his father is doing, and he tries to stop him, but Abner forces him to keep quiet.

The next morning, de Spain finds his barn in flames. He tracks down the Snopes family and confronts Abner. Abner admits to burning the barn, but he says that he was justified because de Spain had wronged him. De Spain orders Abner to leave his land, and Abner agrees.

As the Snopes family is leaving, Sarty realizes that he can no longer live with his father. He knows that Abner is a dangerous man, and he doesn't want to be a part of his destructive cycle. Sarty runs away from his family and heads into the woods.

The story ends with Sarty walking alone through the woods. He is filled with fear and uncertainty, but he is also determined to start a new life. He knows that he will never forget what he has seen, but he is also determined to build a better future for himself.

Barn Burning is a powerful story about the conflict between loyalty and morality. It is also a coming-of-age story about a young boy who must learn to make his own choices in life. The story is beautifully written, and it explores complex themes in a way that is both thought-provoking and moving.