In William Faulkner's "Barn Burning", Sartoris Snopes is the main character. Sarty is the son of Abner Snopes who is an arsonist. In the beginning of the story, it becomes apparent that the son has a symbiotic relationship with his father. He speaks of the powerful force of blood and the common enemy which is the Justice of the Peace. (Paragraph 1). Sarty testifies on behalf of his fathers defense, and even though he finds the justice agreeable, he is accusing his father of the crimes he committed so therefore he is Sarty's foe as well. (paragraph 10).
             It is evident that Sartoris is hungry from the beginning of the story from the personification of his internal organs which are smelling foods and reading labels (Paragraph 1). The apparent hunger introduces the depraved lifestyle which his is accustomed to and also gives insight into his father's character. Sarty has lived a very nomadic existence due to his father's crimes and manages to hold a regal opinion of his father, out of obligation and from the illusion of Abner as a war hero who fought in Colonel Sartoris's Calvary (paragraph 91). The obligation that Sarty felt was entirely due to his father's "heat" and he begins to separate himself from this as his character develops through the story. Abner is shot at towards the end of the story, and the boy begins to rationalize his loyality to the man by recalling his heroism in the war, however is confident that he made the right decision by removing himself from Abner.
             Throughout the story, as Sartoris's character grows, he struggles with making decisions between good and evil. He begins to develop a sense for what is good when he arrives at the DeSpain mansion. He concludes that the mere abundance of their wealth deems the DeSpains as people of peace and dignity and that Abner cannot affect them. He believes that his father's flames are not stro...