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  • Essay / The Theme of Justice and Loyalty in William Faulkner's Barn Burning

    In William Faulkner's short story, "Barn Burning", a possible theme that could be interpreted is the strong loyalty to one's family, regardless of the details of the situation. dynamic, but also the moral dilemma of how important it is to maintain this loyalty. The short story is rich in literary devices and lessons that teach the reader a variety of lessons and themes. Say no to plagiarism. Get a Custom Essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get the original essayWilliam Faulkner was born in New Albany, Mississippi in 1897. He was an American poet and novelist, as well as a railway financier and politician. , soldier, farmer, businessman and lawyer throughout his life. As a young man, not surprisingly, Faulkner loved reading and writing, as well as drawing. However, he never graduated from high school, despite his high intelligence. We suppose school bored him too much. In 1918, he joined the British Royal Flying Corps and trained as a pilot in the First Royal Canadian Air Force after moving to New Haven, Connecticut, to live with a friend of his: Phil Stone. Faulkner trained on Canadian and British bases and, just before the war ended, he completed his service in Toronto, without ever facing combat, although he was known for stretching truths and embellishing stories. dramatic acts and battles. Faulkner was a talented writer, who eventually won the Nobel Peace Prize. He died on July 6, 1962 of a heart attack. Faulkner establishes the theme of justice and loyalty in the first scene where Abner Snopes is tried in a makeshift court set up in a dry goods store. The trial is largely incompetent, and the jury can hardly be considered to have punished Snopes by forcing him out of town and releasing him without any prison time. In this scene, Sarty's outward display of loyalty is revealed when he refuses to testify against his father despite being called to the stand in court. However, internally, Sarty must consciously correct himself by saying that the plaintiff is not only his father's enemy, but also Sarty's. This conscious reminder that he must give himself seems to allude to the moral stress Sarty faces in supporting his father despite the wrongs he has committed. As he leaves the courtroom, he attacks a boy half his size who calls Snopes a barn burner, which also shows how Sarty outwardly shows support for his father. Throughout history, a pattern is established. He never stops trying to defend, through his speeches and his actions, his father to whom he knows he owes his life and with whom he shares a bond. But even though family ties are strong, Sarty is old enough to have begun to realize that what his father is doing is wrong. The struggle continues throughout the story as Sarty outwardly continues to defend his father while inwardly his doubts grow stronger and stronger. Social inequality also fuels the central conflict of “Barn Burning,” which is the root of the problems. Abner Snopes, Sarty's father, is a poor itinerant worker with a family to support, who hates anyone of higher social status. His habit of burning barns seems to stem from his frustration and wounded pride. He gets offended quickly and lashes out strongly as soon as he feels offended. He acts without regard for how Sarty might feel, automatically expecting Sarty's unquestionable support and loyalty, even if it means that Sarty, who is a very.