Barn Burning by Faulkner: Conflict, Morality & Coming of Age

Introduction: Central Conflict in Barn Burning

William Faulkner's short story "Barn Burning" was published in 1939. The setting and mood of the story reflect the Great Depression, and class conflict lies at the heart of the narrative. The story follows a family of poor farm workers and the interpersonal conflicts that arise from their lowly station in life. The Snopes family includes Colonel Sartoris (Sarty), the story's protagonist, and his father Abner Snopes, who functions as the antagonist. Abner Snopes has a habit of taking out his frustration and anger on his landlords by burning down their barns. The story opens in a courtroom where Snopes is on trial, and he expects his son to lie about the barn burning in order to protect him. In "Barn Burning," the central conflict is between father and son; the central complication occurs when Abner deliberately ruins the rug of Major de Spain; and the moment of change arrives when Sarty tells Major de Spain the truth and warns him about the barn.

Father-Son Conflict as the Core Literary Tension

Although deeper issues such as class conflict are at stake in Faulkner's "Barn Burning," the central literary conflict is the boy's relationship with his father. If Snopes were the protagonist, class conflict would be central to the story. However, Sarty is the protagonist, and "Barn Burning" is fundamentally about his coming of age through a significant decision rooted in an assertion of independence. Sarty is placed in the awkward position of defending his father while knowing that what his father does is wrong. The elder Snopes is cruel to his son and paranoid that the boy will betray him. Snopes frequently hits or verbally abuses Sarty, who continues to obey out of fear of his father's wrath. He has been protecting his father out of fear alone — not out of love.

The Complication: Major de Spain's Rug

The complication in "Barn Burning" occurs when Snopes sullies Major de Spain's rug. Leading up to this moment, the Snopes family is forced to move and find work outside the county, eventually taking employment with Major de Spain. However, Snopes is belligerent from the moment the family arrives. In anger, he tracks manure onto Major de Spain's carpet. Major de Spain asks him to clean it, but the harsh detergent ruins the rug beyond repair. Because of the damage, Major de Spain docks twenty bushels of corn from Snopes's pay. This event complicates matters by putting Snopes on trial once again, and it places Sarty in the terrible position of having to lie and defend his father. The trial builds directly toward the climax of the story.

Conclusion: From Childhood to Moral Independence

In "Barn Burning," the central conflict is between father and son; the central complication occurs when Abner ruins the rug of Major de Spain; and the moment of change arrives when Sarty tells Major de Spain the truth and warns him about the barn. The conflict between father and son is ultimately resolved by Sarty, who chooses the path of truth and justice rather than continuing to defend his father's actions. Until the family moved to the de Spain residence, the boy was meek and subservient. A decisive moment of change at the story's end, however, allows him to assert his independence and break free — completing his transition from a fearful child to a young man capable of moral responsibility.