Character and Symbol in Barn Burning by Karl F. Zender: Article Analysis

Zender, Karl F. “Character and Symbol in ‘Barn Burning.’” College Literature, vol. 16, no. 1, 1989, pp. 48–59. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/25111801.

Karl Zender explains there is an obvious realism in Faulkner’s story but the modernist twist throughout is the symbolism of the irony which causes the reader to depart from realism to some deeper meaning. Thus, leaving the reader to decide what deeper meaning to connect the characters to the plot itself. This is true. The story is full of realism with symbolism that leads me to believe that there is a deeper meaning. Zender breaks down literature to a psychological and social function and that the Barn Burning by William Faulkner embodies that. The value of the story within the theme are ever-present and show the means of loyalty and maturation within the character named Sarty. Namely, Zender portrays Faulkner’s climax, of Sarty, essentially killing his father, as a setting of Sarty’s maturity knowing that he must move on.

Zender points to the engagement of three question that sends Sarty to progress throughout the story. First, why does Ab take Sarty to the de Spain house the first time, Second, Why does he take Sarty the second time, and third, why does he refuse to tie Sarty to the bed as his other son suggests, before leaving to burn Spain’s barn? But overall, Zender compares these questions to the loyalty Sarty feels and the pull of values that contradict each other with the defense of his father burning barns. Zender shows this feeling when explaining that Sarty feels freedom when he sees the large De Spain home. The blood ties that Sarty is taught are more important than anything else create conflict for him and his father.. Zender explains that merely seeing these questions and conflicts as merely developmental cut down the stories significance. Also, commonly we see the character but not beyond his predicament. The story is not meant for us, as readers, to limit ourselves to these things like the predicament and the development of the character, but also the values and meaning for today’s world from a classical text.