One of the most interesting things when studying a piece of literature is witnessing character development. This is achieved by something called an “epiphany”. An epiphany is defined as “a showing forth, as when an action reveals a character with particular clarity” (1471). After reading Flannery O’Connor’s “Revelation”, Raymond Carver’s “Cathedral”, and William Faulkner’s “Barn Burning”, you easily see how the protagonist in each of those stories experience their own epiphany. In “Revelation”, the protagonist, Mrs. Turpin, realizes that everyone is equal in God’s eyes regardless of skin color or social status (331). Sarty Snopes in “Barn Burning” has the epiphany towards the end of the story, realizing some people do not change, even if you
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Turpin from the beginning of the story and towards the end, one can analyze how her epiphany changed her life for the better. In the beginning, Mrs. Turpin was very hypocritical. She only thought her outlook on life was the right way. She often judged others by their race, the way they looked, or ones actions. During Mrs. Turpin’s epiphany, God sends a message to her. Her way of thinking is not correct. God wants her to realize that everyone is different; everyone does not think or act the same. She shall not judge no more because everyone is going to …show more content…
Sarty is having to testify against his father, Abner, for burning down a previous barn. Sarty then has to lie and say his father did not burn the barn (407-408). Sarty deals with the conflict of choosing what is wrong when he knows what is right. He wants to believe his father is a good man, not an arsonist. Sarty overhears his father arguing with his mother who is frantically shouting “No, Abner No!” (416) Abner asks Sarty to go get the oil, and when Sarty returns back to the house Abner ties him to the bed (417). Sarty eventually breaks free from the bed and heads up to the barn owned by Major De Spain. He warns De Spain about his father saying, “Barn! Barn!” (418) The next thing he knows, he hears gun shots; his father is dead (418-419). Sarty then experiences his epiphany. Even though that was his father and he was supposed to put family above all, Sarty realized that his father was never going to change. When he got mad, he thought he could burn down barns and everything would be okay. Except this time, Sarty knew he had to make the right decision and warn De
Turpin from the beginning of the story and towards the end, one can analyze how her epiphany changed her life for the better. In the beginning, Mrs. Turpin was very hypocritical. She only thought her outlook on life was the right way. She often judged others by their race, the way they looked, or ones actions. During Mrs. Turpin’s epiphany, God sends a message to her. Her way of thinking is not correct. God wants her to realize that everyone is different; everyone does not think or act the same. She shall not judge no more because everyone is going to …show more content…
Sarty is having to testify against his father, Abner, for burning down a previous barn. Sarty then has to lie and say his father did not burn the barn (407-408). Sarty deals with the conflict of choosing what is wrong when he knows what is right. He wants to believe his father is a good man, not an arsonist. Sarty overhears his father arguing with his mother who is frantically shouting “No, Abner No!” (416) Abner asks Sarty to go get the oil, and when Sarty returns back to the house Abner ties him to the bed (417). Sarty eventually breaks free from the bed and heads up to the barn owned by Major De Spain. He warns De Spain about his father saying, “Barn! Barn!” (418) The next thing he knows, he hears gun shots; his father is dead (418-419). Sarty then experiences his epiphany. Even though that was his father and he was supposed to put family above all, Sarty realized that his father was never going to change. When he got mad, he thought he could burn down barns and everything would be okay. Except this time, Sarty knew he had to make the right decision and warn De