Barn Burning

Essay by PaperNerd ContributorCollege, Undergraduate April 2001

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In the short story "Barn Burning" by William Faulkner the Scope family was faced with some issues that could truly ruin their family and their personal lives. Sarty is in one of the hardest positions for a son to be put in.

Sarty, a.k.a "the boy" definitely had his odds stacked against him right from the start. He was an illiterate boy who was faced with a decision, the decision to tell on his father or lie for him, which he knew his father wanted him to do. I think that Sarty's father did not give his son enough credit. Even though Sarty was illiterate and couldnt put things into words he still knew what was going on, and was not stupid in that way. Sarty towards the end of the story had to make a decision, the decision to just stay and take what he had been taking from his family or jump at the chance to run away.

He knew what he wanted Peace and Joy, but he thought in the beginning that that was way to far from reach. Sarty decides to run away after being held down, and knows in his heart that he wants to be able to choose for himself, even itf it meant going against his own "blood" which he was many times lectured about.

I truely think that Sarty was very strong in doing what he did, he went with his own heart and knew for himself that what his father was doing was wrong. Even though Sarty was illiterate he knew what was right, and was going to stand up for it. It takes a very strong kid to do what he did in the story, and even more so, to be able to survive on his own. Sarty...