notice and do something about it.In the distant past of Americas history, Faulkner also wrote stories based on personal feeling, another explanation for his social protest. His realistic point of view is told throughout the story. During the time when slavery was accepted blacks were called Negroes and niggers. Faulkner uses both words repeatedly throughout the story to show the ignorance of the times. There was no order, as figured by Faulkner, in American history. All throughout the story, there is no peace for the Snopes family. There were many lynching of black men for no other reason rather than their skin color. Social chaos was everywhere. Abner Snopes was the kind of person with a very large chip on his shoulder. Faulkner uses Abner Snopes to define the nature of evil. (Groman, 163.) Mr. Snopes brought trouble wherever he went. When he spoiled de Spains expensive carpet, he cared less for it and because he was to clean it, he decided to burn de Spains barn. Abner Snopes is really the moral antagonist in Sartys conflict. He is the thorn in the delicate rose that throws all balance off. Just as Sarty and Abner struggle to control their own emotional responses and those of their enemies (ESS, 4.) That is what Abner cannot do. Because he cannot control the emotional responses of his enemies, he thinks the only way he can is to destroy something of theirs to attain their attention. Thus, he becomes the enemy against normalcy. In addition, when Abner had to face the courthouse and de Spains servant, he knew nothing more than what he was raised to do, and that was to either fight back or have a cold shoulder. Abner Snopes is not a dumb man, he does know that if he must burn someones barn, he has to do it and get away quickly. Dont you want me to help? (Faulkner, 383.) Sarty asks his father that question when Ab is returning the cleaned carpet back to de Spain. When a young boy wants to help, one would normally let...
