Racial Injustice in America, By: William Faulkner

Being a life long Mississippi man I was constantly surrounded by the injustice of racial inequality. There was never a day that went by that I didn’t imagine what life would be like if one’s skin color did not define their status in society.  I spent my adolescence being raised by great women, one of whom was dark skinned. As a free thinking man, I have always been perplexed by the Southern perspective of racial relations and used that confusion as thematic representations in my work.  It surprises me to know now that not only has man of color been elected president of the United States, but that one of his legitimate challengers is a man of color as well.  America has been removed from the injustices of racial segregation for such a short period of time. There are people alive today that were once not allowed to use the same water fountain as their white counterpart. Has America comes such a long way in such a short time? I feel that as a nation, a majority of Americans have  finally came to realize that skin color is irrelevant,  but there is still a place for racism in modern society. Despite civil rights and affirmative action, the African American population is still among the most struggling socioeconomic group in the United States. With a bad economy and minority unemployment on a continual rise, the immediate future does not look bright.  It took a civil war and the deaths of over five-hundred thousand citizens to end slavery. Who knows how long it will take for the African American population to gain complete equality in the United States. Perhaps nominating people of color to high office is another brick paved on the path to egalitarianism; but it will take thousands of bricks to finish the job.

Barn Burning: A Critical Analysis

In Faulkner’s “Barn Burning” the young Sarty Snopes defines the thin line between familial loyalty and following one’s conscience. As a poor share cropping family, the Snopes’ life is one of hardship and sacrifice. Abner, the patriarch of the family, is so enraged at their low socioeconomic status that his only solace is pure destruction. Not only does Abner destroy other’s personal property, he makes it his mission to devalue his family at every opportunity. Despite the dysfunction of his family, Sarty feels he is obligated to be loyal to the blood ties that bind him. His life is at a crossroads. Still not a man, but not quite a boy, Sarty knows in his heart that the Snopes family will do nothing but lead him down the same path of devastation. Abner has spent his life teaching his family that anyone with social superiority is a blood enemy; for that they must pay and the penalty is fire. Each time Abner sets a barn ablaze, the dream of a life without devastation smolders in the flames. Sarty is put in a position where he must face adult conflict and decide for himself what the right choice is and what is the wrong choice. If he stays with his family, Sarty will never be able to escape his gloomy fate. If he leaves, he risks loosing the only family he has ever known. This conflict runs deep within him. Despite his father’s cruelty, Sarty still feels devotion to him; however undeserving it may be. When Abner was on trial for the burning of his landlords’ barn, Sarty admits that if forced he might even lie for his father. He rationalizes his devotion with an idealized version of his father’s past. He believes that at one time Abner was a good man; going so far as to believe that he was once a loyal soldier in General Satoris’ forces. Though these stories are complete fabrications, they give Sarty a reason to hope. If Sarty can believe Abner once carried the traits of an honorable man he can understand that evil isn’t born, it is created. When Sarty decides to warn De Spain that Abner was going to burn his barn to ashes, he knows that the life he has lived up to this point was over. Sarty can never go back to his father. Turning his back on his own blood makes it impossible to rejoin the Snope’s family. Sarty decides that loyalty to his conscience is more important than supporting the indecency of his father.  

This scene from the theatrical portrayal of "Barn Burning" demonstrates a pivotal moment in the story where Sarty decides to abandon the life of destruction laid out by his father, Abner.

Early American Modernism

The modernist movement of the early twentieth century grew in response to the more conservative Realist movement.” Perhaps the distinguishing feature of modernism is its determination to dispense with the past, in Ezra Pound's phrase "to make it new"” (Werlock). The romantic style focused on the imagined, whereas the modernist style searched for reason and actuality. The vast implications of the social world, including the increased study of psychology and philosophy inspired writers to turn their backs on conventional narrative. The teachings of Darwin, Marx, Nietzsche, Einstein, and Freud were considered as a form of groundwork for modernist thinking.  The influx of rural migration to urban population created a social disjoint in the overcrowded cities. Morals of the past were clashing with the values of the new age.  Ideas and technology were changing, which helped spur the modernist movement. Modernism was global phenomenon, but its effects were diverse and wide spread (Fargoli, Golay, and Hamblin). Techniques such as “stream of consciousness” narrative and interior dialogue were used to express stories from the perspective of the individual. Faulkner himself was a highly skilled practitioner of the technique. “Juxtaposition, irony, comparisons, and satire are elements found in modernist writing” (Quinn). The modernist perspective had many misgivings on the traditions of religion and government. Often times, the writer would explicitly make an observation on a social concept that opposed the status quo. War and the opposition to many aspects of the government created social distrust in the ruling system.“The breaking down of social norms, rejection of standard social ideas and traditional thoughts and expectations, objection to religion and anger towards the effects of the world wars, and the rejection of the truth are topics widely seen in this literary era. A rejection of history, social systems, and a sense of loneliness are also common themes” (Werlock).

Works Cited

Fargnoli, Nicholas A., Michael Golay, and Robert W. Hamblin. "Modernism and the works of William Faulkner." Critical Companion to William Faulkner: A Literary Reference to His Life and Work, Critical Companion. 2008. Bloom's Literary Reference Online. Facts On File, Inc. Tarrant County College Lib., Fort Worth, TX. Web. 11/11/2011. <http://www.fofweb.com/>.

Quinn, Edward. "Modernism." A Dictionary of Literary and Thematic Terms, Second Edition. 2006. Bloom's Literary Reference Online. Facts On File, Inc.  Tarrant County College Lib., Fort Worth, TX. Web.11/11/2011. <http://www.fofweb.com/>.

Werlock, Abby H. P. "Modernism." The Facts On File Companion to the American Short Story, 2^nd Edition.2009. Bloom's Literary Reference Online. Facts On File, Inc. Tarrant County College Lib., Fort Worth, TX. Web. 11/11/2011. <http://www.fofweb.com/>.

William Faulkner: A Brief Biography

William Faulkner is considered to be one of the most influential Southern writers in the Twentieth Century. Born in Mississippi, Faulkner used his native Southern roots as inspiration for many of his great works. In his childhood, Faulkner drew great influence from his artistic and intelligent female relatives. He was raised in affluence, yet he was fascinated with the trials and triumphs of the poor, working class of Mississippi (Gordon). He began his literary journey in adolescence with the writing of poems. His works also include short stories, novels, and screenplays. As a young adult Faulkner attended Ole Miss, but only stayed enrolled in the university for three semesters before heading to New York. He worked odd jobs to support himself as he perused his literary passion.  As a young man in the Deep South, Faulkner was very perplexed by the complexity of the “black versus white” ideas of society and used his first hand knowledge as content in his works (Contemporary Authors Online). Though Faulkner spent much of time in isolated in his home town, he did spend time overseas, which in turn introduced him to the stylings of early modernist literature.  Through the modernist technique Faulkner experimented with “stream of consciousness” narrative and the use of dialect. He would often give the archetypal southern boy with a drawl in his voice and the look of a poor farm hand the ability for deep and perceptual thought (Gordon). In a single narrative it was not uncommon for Faulkner to use several characters’ perspectives to tell the story as a whole. One of the most frequent themes throughout his works was the conflicting moral depravity of the slave supporting South. Often Faulkner would reflect on the South’s deep seated racial tensions by portraying slave owners in the negative light they deserved (Contemporary Authors Online). In 1950 Faulkner was awarded the Nobel Peace Price in Literature for “"for his powerful and independent artistic contribution in America's new literature of the novel" (Fargnoli, Golay, and Hamblin).  Faulkner spent a majority of his life living in his beloved home state Mississippi. Many of his narratives take place in the fictional Yoknapatawpha County which is based off the county in which he was raised (Fargnoli, Golay, and Hamblin). Faulkner died at the age of sixty-five and was laid to rest in Oxford, Mississippi surrounded by the natural world he so adored (Gordon).

Map of Lafayette County, the inspiration for Faulkner's fictional Yokapatawpha County.

Yoknapatawpha County

Works Cited

Contemporary Authors Online. “William Faulkner.” 02/25/2004. Gale   Contemporary Authors Online. Tarrant County College Lib., Fort Worth, TX. Web. 11/01/2011. <http://ezp.tccd.edu >.

Fargnoli, Nicholas A., Michael Golay, and Robert W. Hamblin. "Faulkner, William." Critical Companion to William Faulkner: A Literary Reference to His Life and Work, Critical Companion. 2008. Bloom's Literary Reference Online. Facts On File, Inc. Tarrant County College Lib., Fort Worth, TX.Web . 11/01/2011. < http: //www.fofweb.com>.

Gordon, Debra. “Faulkner, William.” Bloom, Harold, ed. William Faulkner, Bloom's BioCritiques. 2002. Bloom's Literary Reference Online. Facts On File, Inc. Tarrant County College Lib., Fort Worth, TX.Web. 11/01/2011. <http://www.fofweb.com>.