Sarty's Struggle for Independence
             In "Barn Burning," by Faulkner we are told the story of how Sarty (Colonel Sartoris Snopes) struggles with his father in order to find his own identity. At first Sarty is blindly following his father. Later on in the story Sarty questions his father, provoking some serious reactions on the part of the father. At the end, Sarty betrays his father and finally gains his independence from the bitter old man.
             When Sarty's father is first put on trial, Sarty is called up to the witness stand. As he was walking forward, he blocked most of the situation out, but the thoughts running through his head were, "He aims for me to lie," "and I will have to do hit." (both on p. 482)These two statements clearly suggest that Sarty knew what actually happened. They also suggest that Sarty's father expects him to lie in defense of his family, 'his blood.' Even though Sarty was never examined by the court, it is obvious that Sarty knew, before he was even asked a question and given an opportunity to respond, that it was expected of him to lie, do defend, 'his blood.'
             After leaving that town, Sarty questioned his father, asking, "You were fixing to tell them. You would have told him." To this his father replied without a verbal response. Instead, the father struck Sarty saying without heat or anger, "You're getting to be a man. You got to learn. You got to learn to stick to your own blood or you ain't goin to have any blood to stick to you." (p. 484) Sarty attempted to question his father, showing how he questioned his father's actions, but this was immediately silenced by a swift response from his father.
             When Sarty's father decided to burn Major de Spain's barn, again Sarty attempted to question his father. This time the father just grabbed Sarty, carried him into the next room and ordered Ms. Sno...