Comparison Contrast between Dave and Sarty in Barn Burningand The Man Who Was Almost a Man
Dramatic efforts of escape are at the heart of Richard Wright's "TheMan Who Was Almost a Man" and William Faulkner's "Barn Burning." Bothstories focus on young men who run from their past in search of a betterlife. Dave and Sarty are alike in that they want to be mature; however,they are strikingly different in how they seek to achieve their goal. In "The Man Who Was Almost a Man," Dave is a young man who wants togrow up and be a man. He associates manhood with owning a gun. This isobvious when we are told, "One of those days he was going to get a gun andpractice shooting, then they can't talk to him as though he were a littleboy" (1788). We can also sense Dave's desperation when he begs for thecatalog after Mr. Joe tells him, "You ain't nothing but a boy. You don'tneed a gun" (1788). Dave's mother also tells him that he is too young fora gun but he refuses to believe it, adding, "But Ma, we needs gun. Pa aingot no gun. We needa gun in the house. Yuh kin never tell whut mighthappen" (1790). Dave genuinely belives that having a gun will transformhim somehow. Additionally, Sarah Hardy adds, "Armed with a gun, Davebelieves that he will no longer be scared. He will be powerful
Faulkner is describing the kinds of realizations we all experience as wegrow older--moments that seem to bring purpose to our lives. Hardyexplains, "Dave makes a bid for more respect only to inspire shame andhumiliation" (Hardy). Karl Zanderputs it into perspective when he says that these types of moments are "bestbe understood privately" (Zander). This can be seen when the narratorsays: Older still, the boy might have divined the true reason: that the element of spoke to some deep mainspring of his father's being, as the element of steel or of powder spoke to other men, as the one weapon for the preservation of integrity, else breath were not worth breathing, and hence to be regarded with respect and used with discretion. Hisinstincts seem to take over as he warns de Spain and then runs for hislife. Indeed, Dave is demonstrating that he does not knowwhat it takes to be a real man. Dave, in a moment of blind attachment to a gun, also changeshis life forever. Sarty cannot understand why his father does what hedoes. In other words, Sarty is able to workall of these issues out in his own mind. Sarty simply does not accept his father's ways or his anger. (476) Also, as an older Sarty reflects on the past, he realizes, "If I hadsaid they wanted only truth, justice, he would have hit me again" (477). In "Barn Burning," Sarty is reaching for manhood as well, but hereaches it in a different way. Sarty is very self-controlled andbecause of this, Susan Yunis says that Sarty may not even be aware that heis angry. Both boys embark on a new path--one not looking backbecause he knows he can find a better life and one simply hoping he canfind a place where he can be a man. Sarty, in a moment of desperation and terror, changes his and his family'slife forever.
Common topics in this essay:
Burning Sarty,
Man Dave,
Sarty Dave,
Yunis Sarty,
Hardy Dave,
Karl Zander,
Sarah Hardy,
Barn Burning,
Dave Sarty,
Indeed Dave,
sarty simply,
barn burning,
de spain,
life forever,
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Acceptance Essays
