William Faulkner is a renowned author who wrote engaging text and fictional plays in the American South. He is popularly known for narratives, such as, As I Lay Dying and The Sound and the Fury. He was born in the year 1897, in New Albany, Mississippi. He began his literary work with poems before he became popularly known for his books established in Yoknapatawpha- an illusory town of American South. The narrative in the Barn Burning is a portrayal of the affiliation amid the meager and the rich individuals in the general public throughout Civic War. The charisma analysis will be centered on the leading charisma, Abner Snopes, who obtain livelihood for his household by sharecrops. He hates the rich individuals in his society. As a result, he avenges by scorching their barns. Throughout the tale, the charisma of Abner Snopes is consistent: he is violent, an outlaw, and cold-hearted.
To begin with, Abner’s consistent charisma throughout the short narrative is clear indication of heartlessness. He is being evicted from his village after he was found guilty of scorching a man’s barns. Despite all this, Abner depicts no feeling to his household. All over the play, he does not apologize or seek forgiveness from his family nor does he encourage them. Notably, this is also apparent when he hits and strikes his family, which is slightly ruthless when compared to the damages caused by the fire. On top of that, he is frail and unable to defeat everyone he gets into a fight with. Since light is freely available and cheap compared to purchasing ammunition or a gun, Abner resort to burning barns of the rich people. Besides that, when Abner is indicted with damaging the rug, he is observed going out to avenge by scorching the barn owned by DeSpain since he is dissatisfied with the communal system that only favors the rich people. Therefore, in his own right, he believes that scorching Despain’s barn would amend the wrong.
One more essential charisma trait that clearly illustrates Abner as being consistent is the role he plays as an outlaw. Abner in the short story “Barn Burning” is a suitable illustration of a dramatic unveiling of the landed aristocracy. He seeks integrity as well as dignity for himself, which he can only attain by using fire as the element of democracy that he views as they only tool which can be used for defense despite once social class. He becomes an outlaw throughout the civil war by stealing horses from either side of lines. In addition to that, he does not only stop there but also continues with his action of being an outlaw after returning home by obligating arson.
The play starts with Abner being indicted in a courtroom for scorching a barn belonging to Mr. Harris. The law court is unable to prove that Abner is guilty of scorching Mr. Harris barn and as a result, his expelled out of his country. In addition to that, Abner does not want to be associated with everything since he values his honor, legacy, and his household.
In conclusion, in the charisma analysis of Abner reveals him as cold-hearted, violent, and outlaw. He sees his position in the social order to be unfair which roots him to burn the barn, a clear indication of self-defeating action. As a result, he rebelliously challenges the status quo in spite of knowing no change will take place.
