Ashes ashes we all fall down

The fire represents many things in the story of Barn Burning, many of which pertain to Abner. Abner is a crazy man with a blurry view of the world and, in this case, of the difference between right and wrong. He feels like he has been wronged in life and that that fact gives him the right to employ revenge on the world. According to the text Abner is very controlling; he plans all of the fires down to every detail and that is how he gets away with it. However, fire itself is a very uncontrollable thing. The fire could represent his desire to break free of his life into another, one that can not be tamed and one he has control of.

Fire also represents his anger towards the world. He feels that he should not be put into the level of a share cropper and has resentment towards the fact that he is classed lower than others. When Abner is described dull and metallic words are often used, contrasted to the bright dynamics of a fire. This contrast symbolizes the anger and resentment in his life by portraying obvious differing imagery when reading the story.

Abner setting the fire characterizes his desire for power in the world. The fire is a statement that he is still above the African Americans; it shows that even though he may not be wealthy he still has the ability to create destruction and get away with it. This act represents his desire for a new life, one that puts him in a more "fair" position according to his skin color.

Fire in the Barn Burning can represent many other things, these just being a few of them. The symbols depicted from the fire all work to characterize Abner as a misunderstood individual who has so much anger and resentment within him that he turned to violence and destruction to fulfill his life.