SOCIAL INEQUALITY AND LOYALTY IN THE SHORT STORY BARN BURNING

Abstract

This research aims to describe the theme of social equality and the theme of loyalty in the short story Barn Burning by William Faulkner. In this paper the researcher uses qualitative methods to analyze. This research explores how Faulkner describes the social organization conflict that William Faulkner describes towards the Snopes family who are at the bottom of society. Apart from that, loyalty is explored through the character Sarty Snopes who experiences a moral dilemma between loyalty to his family and the desire to do what is right. This research uses the sociological classification of literature by Wellek and Warren, including the sociological researcher, the content of the work, and the reader. This research also uses Marxism theory to analyze injustice in social classes or injustice experienced by the Snopes family. The results of this research identify that William Faulkner used this theme to criticize the existing social structure and the value of morality. This explains how this story emerged against the background of events that occurred at that time in America. At that time there was a great depression and a post-civil war situation. William Faulkner depicts social injustice through the character Abner Snopes who is a poor farmer who protests using piracy against the injustice he experiences. Loyalty is depicted through Sarty's character who is trapped in his loyalty to his family and the moral impulse that Sarty experiences to uphold the truth. Abner's actions are a form of working class resistance to exploitation of the lower classes and injustice. This short story aims to understand social awareness and injustice in society.