Abner comes across as a bad guy for the most part, not really as a hero, but it is hard to tell because he does have somewhat of a tragic life. Abner may burn barns for the satisfaction, but maybe it is so much more than that. Perhaps he is getting revenge on certain people that have badly effected him, and in return it is causing him to be a madman and abuse his family. He is terrible towards his family, one son in particular, Sartoris. Sartoris does what his father tells him and knows that what he is helping him do is wrong, which is tragic. I do not consider Abner a hero because I believe that he is a selfish man who does not care for his family and always gets them in trouble. That in itself is a tragedy.
Faulkner has indeed written a tragedy. Abner was an abusive father, tormenting citizen, and in the end was shot and killed right in front of his own son. "...He heard the shot and, an instant later, two shots, pausing now without knowing he had ceased to run, crying "Pap! Pap!"..." (Pg. 262). Throughout the story, it is hard to feel sorry for Abner since one would think he is the stupid one ruining his own life, but then again, he is also ruining his family's life and being cruel to them. I don't understand the morals behind his actions, but the ending was enough to make this story tragic. He died and his son was there, that is all there is to it.
- Megan Burch
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