The Endless Circle in William Faulkners Barn Burning :: Barn Burning Essays

The Endless Circle in William Faulkners Barn Burning William Faulkners short study Barn Burning is the tale of a southernman forced into a role by society. Barn Burning takes place in the target CivilWar South where a mans place in society is derived by their actions during thewar. Ab Snopse, a man who served both the North and the South, is plagued withhis non-allegiance and failure to deport authority. When Ab comes into conflictwith his employer, he finds himself taking control from the authority figure,and reverting back to his mercenary ways. Having no allegiance, Ab makes themove from helping hand to the resistance by burning down barns. Along with many of Faulkners short stories, Barn Burning is set inthe imaginary Mississippi county of Yoknapatawpha. During the restoration ofthe South, the time rate of flow following the Civil War, the only thing that kept theSouth alive and running where the memories of fallen heroes and the belief thatthe South would someday regain th e status that it had one time held. Families likethe Sartorises and the de Spains were glorified and praised for honors thattheir family members had achieved during battle. The honor that families likethese were granted placed them in public offices, and gave them opportunities toprosper where opposites could only dream about. This same honor seemed to carry onto those who shared the names of the great war heroes. Hey, the Justice said.Talk louder. Colonel Sartoris? I reckon anybody named for Colonel Sartoris inthis county cant help but tell the truth, can they? (Kennedy 163). On the other hand, the Snopses are viewed as dishonorable. During thewar, Ab Snopse was considered a mercenary for serving both sides of the way. ...nights passed during those four years in the woods hiding from all men, blueand gray, with his string section of horses (captured horses, he called them) (165).Ab stole horses from the North and the South, to earn a living. He was evenshot by a confederate sold ier, His father turned, and he followed the remainsblack coat, the wiry figure walking a little stiffly from where a Confederateprovosts mans musket ball had taken him in the heel on a stolen horse thirtyyears ago...(164). Actions like these caused the community to look down uponthe Snopses, which in turn caused Ab to invoke revenge upon his adversaries. When Ab comes into conflict with an employer, he reverts to his oldCivil War ways of non allegiance to benefit himself.