Barn Burning Essay

810 Words4 Pages
“Barn Burning” William Faulkner’s two famous short stories a rose for Emily and barn burning share many similarities and differences. A rose for Emily, the main character Emily is emotionally attached to her home and Mr. Grierson her dear father soon to be diseased. The barn burning, the main character Colonel Sartoris Snopes is an innocent 10 year boy who is torn between being ethical or unethical due to his father’s arsonist behavior. Barn Burning and A Rose for Emily have similar characterization, and themes. However they differ in symbolism. Colonel Sartoris is a 10 year old boy who’s innocent like his mother. During his fathers court hearing, he was chosen to testify against his father. Sartoris chose to remain loyal to his family and lie under oath. William Faulkner writes “He aims for me to lie, he thought, again with the frantic grief and despair. And I will have to do hit”(226). Colonel Sartoris, nonetheless chose to be loyal to his family then to give Mr. Harris justice for his barn. A rose for Emily, the main character Emily wished to remain loyal to her father’s body by not surrendering his corpse. William Faulkner writes, “The day after his death all the ladies prepared to offer condolence and aid, as our custom. Miss Emily met them at the door, no grief and said her father was not dead. She did that for three days, with the ministers calling on her, and the doctors, trying to persuade her to let them dispose of the body”(241). Without a doubt, both Colonel Sartoris and Emily chose to remain loyal to their family. Barn Burning and A rose for Emily shared the same theme which was loneliness. Colonel Sartoris was a lonely 10 year old. Sartoris was not a social individual he had no one accept his family. After lying in court, the judge ordered his father to leave the county which he did. Upon leaving, he was
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