Abner in, William Faulkner's “Barn Burning,” represents resilience, and power. When Abner is first introduced, he is accused for the burning of Mr. Harris’s barn. Mr. Harris explains the numerous amount of times he’s offered to help Abner fix his pen, but Abner refuses to take any orders not fabricated by his own mind. In an effort to solve the problem, the court asks his son Sarty to testify. With Abner's silent power over him, Sarty is forced to see everyone who is an enemy of Abner, as an enemy of him. Faulkner explains this saying, “Enemy! Enemy! he thought; for a moment he could not even see” (p.1). As a result of Abner’s power, his family fears individuality. Towards the end of the story, Sarty reveals that Abner was in the military saying,
