The Primary Theme of William Faulkners Barn Burning

Barn Burning
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Barn burning is story that was authored by William Faulkner and American writer. The story whichis quite interesting is riddled with many themes among them the theme of father and son relationship. It also highlights the aspects of conflict between the different classes in the society. In the theme about the father and son relationship, there is the element of dilemma on the part of the son, where he is not sure whether to follow in the father’s footsteps or do what is right(Ke-dong & Shi-rong, 2013). It is a grueling task for the boy to transform into manhood. While he struggles with his identity and that of his father, eventually he decides to take up his own and stands for what he believes is right by his conscience(Liu, 2012).
The story which is told in the third person perspective, Sartyis confused about whether to stay loyal to his family, or find his own way and embrace the sense of justice that is growing on him. He blindly wants to conform to his father’s authority, while he struggles with blood ties and the cognition of justice.At one time his father tells his that he has to be loyal to his family; “You are getting to be a man.You got to learn. You got to learn. You got to learn to stick to your own blood or you ain’t going to have anyblood to stick to you”(AP English Literature, 2010). In the beginning he chooses to turn a blind eye to the behavior of the father, whether they came out as good or bad. In court, when he is told to testify against his father, he chooses to stay mute due to the fact that he did not want soil the reputation of his father and his dignity(Liu, 2012). At the same time he wants to an obedient son as per the religious teachings and thus remains quite during the session. Given that he was still young; his sense of right and wrong is blinded by the fact that he idolizes his father on the accounts that his father represented a supreme authority having served in the civil war(Ke-dong & Shi-rong, 2013).Abner, his father acts out on the rich in an attempt to fight against the inequalities that are in the society. As such, the act of burning the barn belonging to Mr. Harris was an effort towards social injustices and inequalities. Due to the fact that the boy saw his father as a hero and the figure of authority, he views anyone that might want to harm his father as an enemy.