“Barn Burning” by William Faulkner is a short story that revolves around the frequent barn burnings carried out by Abner Snopes who is the father of a young Colonel Sartorius Snopes (Sarty). Abner in the story portrays an angry pyromaniac, who habitually conflicts with his more affluent neighbors and then burns their barns before relocating with his family (Levmore, 2). Faulkner opens the story in the middle of a trial of arson and Sartorius is called to testify. However, the victim of the arson
telling someone "I love you", it can be portrayed through actions that may be deemed irresponsible or harsh. The person who commits these acts may not realize that what they are doing is wrong, instead believing it is the only way. William Faulkner's story "Barn Burning", the character that is focused on, Abner, is a man that appears to be cruel and emotionless with his actions. Readers are not meant to be able to symphathize with him. If carefully inspected though, there are places in the story when
nonviolence could reduce the violence that consumes souls, homes, and society. In Williams Faulkner’s short story “Barn Burning”, Sartoris Snopes is constantly overwhelmed by fear, agony, and despair because of his father’s practices of violence not only against his family but also the law. He knows that he must search for peace if he ever wants to be free from his unstable and unpredictable life. Throughout the story Sarty deals with his father’s brutality and ignorance which poses a struggle when trying