Father Knows Oppression: Marxism and "Barn Burnings" Anonymous College

William Faulkner’s “Barn Burning” is a story of a boy coming to terms with the conflicting expectations of a just society and his place in his family. While that may not seem like too hard a balance to keep, his father does not like society the way it is and very much does not consider it ‘just’. Throughout this work the reader gets to know the Father and his headspace. His view of society is a much more Marxist leaning one than his son, who is captivated by the expensive, material beauty in the world, even if he does not possess it. The Father does his best to fight back against an oppressive, capitalist society, even if his methods aren’t exactly the most legal. In his lifelong battle against oppression, the Father is a great example of someone living a Marxist lifestyle, even without being ‘brainwashed’ or convinced into the movement through peer or manifesto.

One of the prominent aspects of Marxism is how it changes your view of material goods and a populace’s dependence on them. While the son is very easily captivated by the opulent house of their soon-to-be employer, his Father is not so easily emotionally swayed by mere objects. The son’s adoration of the house is instant and all-encompassing: “he saw the house for the...