The Detached Arsonist

The Detached Arsonist

A father is a figure commonly known for his compassion and general desire for the best in his family's interest. However, this is not the case in William Faulkner's "Barn Burning", a short story which takes place in the South after the Civil War. Abner Snopes, a share-cropper, committed arsonist crimes against people of higher socio-economic status by whom he felt threatened. His deeds forced his family to move constantly. However, he was prepared for every relocation and planed his actions carefully. Without emotion, he strikes his children and wife, and with the same lack of emotion, he committed each act of arson. Faulkner has created a complex portrait of a man who is vengeful, abusive, and unfeeling - this attitude seems to be caused by Abner's resentment about his low socio-economic status.

Abner Snopes was resentful towards those who held a higher social class then him. When Snopes was thrown out of the county by the Justice of the Peace, Abner remarked, '"I don't figure to stay in a country among people who...' he said something unprintable and vile [...]" (par. 7). This spiteful comment was a way for Abner to cope with being shunned. Others are constantly degrading Abner with remarks about his low socio-economic status: "But you never had a hundred dollars. You never will" (par. 43), which illustrates the lack of respect he received. Even though Major de Spain had hired Abner to work for him, Snopes was anything but grateful: "I reckon I'll have a word with the man that aims to begin tomorrow owning me body and soul for the next eight months" (par.21). Instead of Snopes seeing this as a paying job, he was bitter towards Major de Spain because of his wealth. When he was leaving de Spain's large home, which Sarty described it being as "big as a courthouse" (par. 23), Snopes makes a callous remark, "Pretty and white [...] That's sweat. Nigger sweat. Maybe it ain't white enough yet to suit him. Maybe he wants to mix some white sweat with it" (par. 27). Being envious of Major de Spain's white mansion, Snopes has to make a malicious remark regarding de Spain's choice of help.

As well as being resentful, Abner was accurately portrayed as an unemotional, yet cruel character. In the very beginning of the story, he exacts his revenge upon Mr. Harris by burning down his barn. This occurred after the forewarned Abner allowed his hog to get into Mr. Harris' corn for the third time: "The hog got into my corn [...] The next time I put the hog in my pen. [...] The next time I put the hog up and kept it [...] I told him he could have the hog when he paid me a dollar pound fee. That evening a nigger came with a dollar and got the hog. [...] He said, 'He say to tell you wood and hay kin burn [...]" (par. 2). Abner invoked his vengeance upon his victims very cleverly. Another example of his vengeful attitude occurs when Abner enters the home of Major de Spain, a wealthy farmer that had given Abner work. "[...] he appeared to examine the house with brief deliberation. Then with the same deliberation he turned [...] leaving a final long and fading smear" (par. 27). This quotation demonstrates his utter hatred and vengefulness. Abner examined the house and saw its perfection for a final time. He took his revenge upon Major de Spain's success by leaving a mark from the manure on his shoe. The final example of his vengefulness is the strongest. Because Major de Spain was to receive ten bushels of corn for the damage done to his rug, Abner attempted to burn down his barn as well.

Additionally, Abner Snopes was an abusive man. He strikes his son and wife numerous times as well as uses verbal abuse towards them. One case occurs after Sarty thinks of telling the court that his father had committed the crime of arson. "You were fixing to tell them[...]His father struck him[...]hard but without heat, exactly as he had struck the two mules at the store[...]" (par. 18). This demonstrated not only his physical abuse but his lack of emotion as well. Abuse occurred so often that