Character Traits in Faulkner’s “Barn Burning”, Tan’s “Two Kinds”, and Cather’s “Paul’s Case”
Nick Gantt
Mr. Stuva
Comp II
14 Mar. 2013
Character Traits in Faulkner’s “Barn Burning”, Tan’s “Two Kinds”, and Cather’s “Paul’s Case” The characters of Sarty in Barn Burning, Jing-Mei in Two Kinds, and Paul in Paul’s Case all have notable traits that make them who they are. Whether it be flat characters that bring the traits out of them, or just the position in which they live, they all see life in a different way. These characters all have a desire to live a different life, but all come together in how they want to get there, which is by living life a different way than they were brought up to be. The story of “Barn Burning” brings out the topic of manhood for young Sarty. Sarty knows early right from wrong, so when he sees his father burning down barns, he knows that it is unjust and wrongful for him to do. By doing this it brings out many traits in him such as being brave, just, and responsible. “Maybe this is the end of it. Maybe even that twenty bushels that seems hard to have to pay for just a rug will be a cheap price for him to stop forever and always from being what he used to be” (Faulkner, 184). This quote symbolizes that Sarty just wants some things in his life to disappear. He knows how much stress his father has put onto the family and he wishes it could all be erased. There is a huge lack of peace in Sarty’s life, and he thinks the only way for it to be found is find what is right in his conflict between loyalty to the law and loyalty to his family. “Maybe he will feel it too. Maybe it will even change him now from what maybe he couldn’t help but be” (Faulkner, 181). This quote again symbolizes that Sarty has a different side to him, unlike his father. Sarty has a kind of morality that is different from what his father is really trying to teach him, and that’s what makes him have the special traits that he has. Jing-Mei is a character that really has a rough time trying to fit into what her mother wants her to be, when she herself
Mr. Stuva
Comp II
14 Mar. 2013
Character Traits in Faulkner’s “Barn Burning”, Tan’s “Two Kinds”, and Cather’s “Paul’s Case” The characters of Sarty in Barn Burning, Jing-Mei in Two Kinds, and Paul in Paul’s Case all have notable traits that make them who they are. Whether it be flat characters that bring the traits out of them, or just the position in which they live, they all see life in a different way. These characters all have a desire to live a different life, but all come together in how they want to get there, which is by living life a different way than they were brought up to be. The story of “Barn Burning” brings out the topic of manhood for young Sarty. Sarty knows early right from wrong, so when he sees his father burning down barns, he knows that it is unjust and wrongful for him to do. By doing this it brings out many traits in him such as being brave, just, and responsible. “Maybe this is the end of it. Maybe even that twenty bushels that seems hard to have to pay for just a rug will be a cheap price for him to stop forever and always from being what he used to be” (Faulkner, 184). This quote symbolizes that Sarty just wants some things in his life to disappear. He knows how much stress his father has put onto the family and he wishes it could all be erased. There is a huge lack of peace in Sarty’s life, and he thinks the only way for it to be found is find what is right in his conflict between loyalty to the law and loyalty to his family. “Maybe he will feel it too. Maybe it will even change him now from what maybe he couldn’t help but be” (Faulkner, 181). This quote again symbolizes that Sarty has a different side to him, unlike his father. Sarty has a kind of morality that is different from what his father is really trying to teach him, and that’s what makes him have the special traits that he has. Jing-Mei is a character that really has a rough time trying to fit into what her mother wants her to be, when she herself
Cited: "The Sisters." Shmoop. Web. 04 Mar. 2013. http://www.shmoop.com/barn-burning/the-sisters.html "Two Kinds by AMYÂ TAN." NovelSneak. Web. 04 Mar. 2013. http://novelsneak.wordpress.com/2009/12/16/two-kinds-by-amy-tan Colonel (Sarty) Sartoris Snopes." Shmoop. Web. 04 Mar. 2013. http://www.shmoop.com/barn- burning/colonel-sarty-sartoris-snopes.html "Brief Explanations on Two Kinds Characters." - Essay. Web. 04 Mar. 2013. http://www.studymode.com/essays/Brief-Explanations-On-Two-Kinds-Characters-577590.html "Paul’s Case: A Study in Temperament." SparkNotes. SparkNotes, Web. 04 Mar. 2013. http://www.sparknotes.com/short-stories/pauls-case/canalysis.html Roberts, Edgar V., and Henry E. Jacobs. Literature: An Introduction to Reading and Writing. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall, 1989. Print.