Upon first reading "Barn Burning" by William Faulkner i did not characterize the short story on the same level as a classical tragedy such as Oedipus, or Romeo and Juliet just to name a few, but now looking back and re-reading the tragedy has definitely jumped out and become obvious. While reading, I can see that this story is a heroic tragedy about Sarty Snopes, Abner's son, and the paths that he takes while trying to grow into his own awareness and morality while trying to cope with his fathers unusual and bizarre acts.
Sarty, who dislikes his father's destructive behavior, ultimately must choose between family and morality. Sarty is torn between doing the right thing, which is telling the truth about his father, and staying loyal to his family. He does not want to lie for his father anymore, but feels like he has to because the right thing to do would be staying loyal to his family. What Sarty does not realize is that Abner does not really care about his family or what happens to them and that he only cares for himself and getting revenge on all of the people that have controlled, and taken advantage of him. By Sarty running away, that is his way of showing that he really cares for his family, but he is not going to lie for his father anymore. "Barn Burning" is a tragedy because it very clearly shows the classical struggle between the "privileged" and the "underprivileged" classes.
-Exactly 250 words!
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