Abner Snopes: Character Analysis in Faulkner's Barn Burning
This paper examines Abner Snopes, the protagonist of William Faulkner's short story "Barn Burning," analyzing his character as both a morally reprehensible figure and a product of his historical and social circumstances. The analysis traces Abner's arc from a man hardened by poverty and Civil War trauma to a vindictive arsonist, while acknowledging that understanding him requires recognizing the patriarchal and class-based systems of the post-Civil War South. The paper argues that though Abner remains unsympathetic, his actions reflect desperation rooted in economic inequality and social degradation, ultimately contrasting his destructive choices with his son Sarty's redemptive rejection of family violence.
- Introduction: Faulkner's Vision of the Snopes Family: Faulkner's portrayal of degenerate poor whites and Abner Snopes
- Character Analysis: The Making of a Barn Burner: Abner's coldness, selfishness, and descent into violent vindication
- Historical and Social Context: A Product of His Times: Abner's behavior as reflection of patriarchal and class systems
- Conclusion: Understanding Without Forgiveness: Abner as unredeemable but comprehensible; Sarty's moral redemption
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What makes this paper effective
- The paper moves beyond simple moral judgment to explore the tension between individual culpability and historical circumstance, a sophisticated literary reading.
- It uses specific textual evidence—physical descriptions of Abner, his treatment of family, the rug incident, and the barn burnings—to build a coherent character interpretation.
- The analysis acknowledges Faulkner's narrative technique, recognizing that the narrator's harsh presentation of Abner must be read against period norms (patriarchal authority, class resentment) to understand authorial intent.
- The conclusion ties Abner's arc to his son Sarty's moral awakening, showing how the story functions as a moral commentary on generational break and American ideals.
Key academic technique demonstrated
This paper exemplifies contextual character analysis—interpreting literary behavior not in isolation but within the historical and social systems that shape it. The writer avoids the trap of anachronistic judgment, instead reading Abner's patriarchal expectations and class rage as products of 1930s Southern society while maintaining that his violence remains morally indefensible. This balanced approach—sympathy without excuse—reflects mature literary criticism.
Structure breakdown
The essay follows a classic character-study arc: introduction establishes Abner's thematic function in Faulkner's Yoknapatawpha; the character analysis section catalogs his flaws and violence; a substantial middle section reframes those flaws through historical lens; and the conclusion synthesizes understanding with moral judgment, then pivots to Sarty's symbolic redemption. This structure prevents the paper from collapsing into either pure condemnation or relativism.
Introduction: Faulkner's Vision of the Snopes Family
William Faulkner has a fascination with the downtrodden and presents Southern families not in their splendor but in their downfall. Thus, we see the degenerate poor whites—a group presented in the name Snopes, who are seen to take over Yoknapatawpha. The Snopes are an immoral family who create tragedies within the lives of the people in the town. In the short story Barn Burning, it is Abner Snopes that catches the reader's attention. Abner Snopes is presented as a man who hates with a vengeance. He feels that he has been unfairly treated in life, and that resentment leads to his acts of violence.
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