when his father falls to his death. This is evident when the boy restates his lines as he looks upon his father lifeless body. As Little Guy looks upon his father’s dead body, he speaks the beginning of his lines: “A wall of fire rising, and in the ashes, I see the bones of my people” (Mays p.328). In this context, the wall of fire rising refers to the hot air balloon in which his father has fallen to his death from. Also, the line “I see the bones of my people” refers to his dead father. I believe these lines can also relate and be used in the same context for the death of Sartoris’s father. In “Barn Burning” the wall of fire refers to Major De Spain’s barn that Snopes has intended set fire to. Fire is also used as a constant threat
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The son, from the time he was little, has been surrounded by violence and conflict. He is constantly overwhelmed by grief, fear and despair. Sartoris realizes that in order to be free from “the old blood which he had not permitted for himself,” he must continue to search for peace and hope elsewhere. Sartoris specifically refers to feeling grief, fear, and despair throughout the story. This reveals the extent of his struggle to identify with is family and reveals the struggle to find his own set of morals. This internal conflict is evident when he claims that his father’s enemy is also his family’s enemy. In contrast, later in the story he contradicts himself when he is thinking about running away. “I could keep on, he thought…Only, I can’t” (Mays p.197). This line shows that he contemplates escaping his harsh family situation, but is still being held captive to his father’s authority. It is not until the end of the story, where he finally experiences freedom and hope.
To add to the connections between “A Wall of Fire Rising” and “Barn Burning” there are many lines that could describe the others situation. For example, when the boy recites his lines and says “I see the bones of my people” to describe Guy’s lifeless body lying in front of the son. In addition, these lines can also be applied to Sartoris in “Barn Burning.” We see that the father is shot by the employer three times due to his attempt to set fire to his barn. “I see the bones of my people” could also refer to Snopes dead body lying on the ground for his family to
The son, from the time he was little, has been surrounded by violence and conflict. He is constantly overwhelmed by grief, fear and despair. Sartoris realizes that in order to be free from “the old blood which he had not permitted for himself,” he must continue to search for peace and hope elsewhere. Sartoris specifically refers to feeling grief, fear, and despair throughout the story. This reveals the extent of his struggle to identify with is family and reveals the struggle to find his own set of morals. This internal conflict is evident when he claims that his father’s enemy is also his family’s enemy. In contrast, later in the story he contradicts himself when he is thinking about running away. “I could keep on, he thought…Only, I can’t” (Mays p.197). This line shows that he contemplates escaping his harsh family situation, but is still being held captive to his father’s authority. It is not until the end of the story, where he finally experiences freedom and hope.
To add to the connections between “A Wall of Fire Rising” and “Barn Burning” there are many lines that could describe the others situation. For example, when the boy recites his lines and says “I see the bones of my people” to describe Guy’s lifeless body lying in front of the son. In addition, these lines can also be applied to Sartoris in “Barn Burning.” We see that the father is shot by the employer three times due to his attempt to set fire to his barn. “I see the bones of my people” could also refer to Snopes dead body lying on the ground for his family to