Barn Burning Essay~
More than once, one may question whether they should support someone in doubtful choices that they have made. Of course the family member believes that their family will stand by their side no matter what, but there are boundaries. When an action or choice is so severe to the point that their family has to wonder whether to support them or not, it also questions what type of person they are. This internal conflict of whether to follow what he believes is right or to stand by his family happens to Colonel Startoris Snopes in William Faulkner's short story "Barn Burning." Sarty, a young boy, is brought in front of the court to testify against his father who was accused of burning down a barn. Because Sarty is just a little boy, he wants to stick to his father and he knows he has to lie to keep his father safe. He knows that he is lying in court, and the court knows this as well. The Justice realizes that they have put a young boy in a bad position and let the family go, though. As Sarty is dealing with an inner conflict of whether to stick to his blood by supporting his father or doing what is right, he slowly transforms from a young naive child to a more responsible man who starts to see the real world for what it is even though he has to betray his father in the process. What is more important, family or telling the truth? Family is more important in most cases, but not all. In the beginning, Sarty is completely set on supporting his father no matter what. He even attacks a passerby with defensive rage for yelling "Barn Burner!" But slowly, Sarty realizes that what his father is doing is wrong and beacuse they keep happening, Sarty knows that he must stop his father one way or another or else many others will get hurt. He warns Major de Spain about his father, betraying his entire family. After his betrayal to his dad, Sarty also lost him. It is a big struggle to choose from supporting family to doing what one believes is right, yet also betraying family at the