Rosson 1
Rosson 3
Lauren Rosson
Dr. Skelton
English 1302
4 October 2013
Character Analysis: "Barn Burning"
In the short story "Barn Burning," by William Faulkner, Colonel Sartoris Snopes, "Sarty" is a young child who throughout our story plays with the feelings of betrayal of his family or living a life of lies. After being called to the stand in the courtroom that his father is being accused of arson, Sarty is to testify on his father's behalf and nothing more even though he knew all too well it was lying. Playing with the emotions of a young child who knows nothing but to do what his father request of him, Sarty is to lie on his father's behalf and to never take the enemy side. After not being pleased with Sarty's almost giving into the emotions and letting the truth out in the courtroom, his father took him and struck him with a blow to his head letting Sarty know just how he felt, "You're getting to be a man.
English: William Faulkner's signature
William Faulkner, 1954
Snopes logoYou 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."(189) This is the kind of brain washing this young ten- year old Sarty is having to battle the emotions of right or wrong. Toying with who is the real enemy in his life.
After not having to testify at the stand, Sarty is able to allow his father to go free because of not having enough evidence, but under the punishment of having to leave the country without return. When leaving the country Sarty and his family stop at a store where he and his father are greeted with young boys who throw "barn burner" at his father. Upon...