Barn Burning Essay Introduction
William Faulkner’s “Barn Burning,” first published in 1939 in *Harper’s Magazine*, follows
Sarty Snopes, a young boy whose loyalty to his family is challenged by his growing
awareness of his father’s destructive behavior. Sarty’s father, Abner Snopes, repeatedly
responds to perceived insults and conflicts by burning the barns of people he considers
his enemies, forcing the family to live under constant instability. As Sarty becomes
increasingly aware of the difference between his father’s sense of loyalty and his own
developing belief in justice, he faces a difficult choice between protecting his family and
acting according to his conscience. Through Sarty’s moral development, Faulkner
examines family loyalty, class conflict, violence, and the struggle to form an independent
sense of right and wrong.
