ughout the narration, the reader notes the glaring gulf between
             the absolute despicability of the father, contrasted with the son's desire
             to remain loyal to him (and by extension) to his family in spite of its
             severe flaws. This loyalty (described by Mr. Snopes as clinging to "your
             blood") is striking in its inappropriateness, yet is, in the milieu of the
             author's Mississippi culture, absolutely normal, and unquestionable. For
             in that culture, loyalty to family is, even if uninspired by love,
             Indeed, if the boy's father were innocent, kind and caring, Faulkner
             wouldn't be capable of communicating the importance of honorâ€"especially
             toward "blood," roots, and family (strong traditional southern values) in
             the lives of the characters (and the culture the author understands, and
             wants the reader to understand) in such a way that it "burns" itself into
             Finally, after the concept and the importance of family loyalty is
             firmly communicated, Faulkner then allows the boy to warn Major de Spain,
             irrevocably breaking the bond of loyalty, and creating a new life separate
             from his family, and that absolute value. The break is startling, only
             because the feeling of the importance of fa
             ...