Faulkner creates a character who almost perfectly fits into the mold of a tragic figure. Abner Snopes causes catharsis in the audience, and also has a crucial flaw that leads to his downfall.
Abner Snopes is a character that everyone fears at the beginning of the story. His harsh “black, flat, and bloodless” features invoke a sense of fear in, not only the audience, but also in Abner's family. This sense of fear begins the critical development of catharsis. As the story progresses, Abner maintains this “dark” and lifeless “tin” persona, causing both physical and emotional harm to his family because of his rage. However, at the end of the story, the final piece to catharsis is added: pity. In, what would be, his final attempt to rebel against the oppressive upper class, Abner sets fire to de Spain's barn and is killed as a result. One can only for sorry for the man who was only trying to proclaim his equality to the upper class, although in a very destructive and cruel manner. This feeling of pity completes the feelings of catharsis and helps develop Abner into a tragic character.
Abner also maintains one crucial flaw that leads to his downfall, one crucial aspect to a tragic figure. Abner feels an endless sense of pride in himself and goes into an uncontrollable rage when this pride is damaged. Abner feels as though he is equal to everyone else in society. However, he is constantly reminded that he is not because he is forced to be a sharecropper. This damages his pride and causes him to perform incredibly destructive acts of arson. This eventually leads to his downfall at the end of the story when he is killed because of one of his acts of rage.
Although this may not actually be irony, I think that it is ironic that the fall of one character leads to another character rising above his challenges. Abner experiences a tragic fall at the end of the story. Along with this fall, Sarty rises to the occasion and becomes a man. As one character is destroyed by his flaw, another discovers the truth about life, escapes the creation of a possible flaw in them self, and becomes a man. This irony, not only enhances the development of Abner as a tragic character and Sarty as a character, but also contributes to the tragic aspect of the story by providing some kind of irony.
Abner fits the basic characteristics of a tragic character. He invokes feelings of fear and pity in the audience and is destroyed in the end by his tragic flaw of hubris.
Done.
Abner Snopes is a character that everyone fears at the beginning of the story. His harsh “black, flat, and bloodless” features invoke a sense of fear in, not only the audience, but also in Abner's family. This sense of fear begins the critical development of catharsis. As the story progresses, Abner maintains this “dark” and lifeless “tin” persona, causing both physical and emotional harm to his family because of his rage. However, at the end of the story, the final piece to catharsis is added: pity. In, what would be, his final attempt to rebel against the oppressive upper class, Abner sets fire to de Spain's barn and is killed as a result. One can only for sorry for the man who was only trying to proclaim his equality to the upper class, although in a very destructive and cruel manner. This feeling of pity completes the feelings of catharsis and helps develop Abner into a tragic character.
Abner also maintains one crucial flaw that leads to his downfall, one crucial aspect to a tragic figure. Abner feels an endless sense of pride in himself and goes into an uncontrollable rage when this pride is damaged. Abner feels as though he is equal to everyone else in society. However, he is constantly reminded that he is not because he is forced to be a sharecropper. This damages his pride and causes him to perform incredibly destructive acts of arson. This eventually leads to his downfall at the end of the story when he is killed because of one of his acts of rage.
Although this may not actually be irony, I think that it is ironic that the fall of one character leads to another character rising above his challenges. Abner experiences a tragic fall at the end of the story. Along with this fall, Sarty rises to the occasion and becomes a man. As one character is destroyed by his flaw, another discovers the truth about life, escapes the creation of a possible flaw in them self, and becomes a man. This irony, not only enhances the development of Abner as a tragic character and Sarty as a character, but also contributes to the tragic aspect of the story by providing some kind of irony.
Abner fits the basic characteristics of a tragic character. He invokes feelings of fear and pity in the audience and is destroyed in the end by his tragic flaw of hubris.
Done.
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