Primary conflicts compared in Faulkner's "Barn Burning" and Godwin's "a Sorrowful Woman". Written for RIT Writing and Lit 1 required course.

In both Barn Burning, by William Faulkner, and A Sorrowful Woman, by Gail Godwin, the primary characters are torn between external expectations, and internal desires. Although both characters share a similar experience, they resolve their conflict in very different manners. Sarty, from Barn Burning, breaks from his family, betraying his father, and beginning a new life for himself. The protagonist of A Sorrowful Woman is unable to bear the strain of her situation and chooses …

…has actually committed suicide. Throughout this story, the protagonist attempts to escape from her personal struggles, as opposed to Sarty, who simply wishes that the conflicts would resolve. The hero in A Sorrowful Woman never actually confronts her problems, choosing instead to passively watch her world go by and retreat into death at the end. Sarty recognizes and confronts his conflicts, and chooses to follow the difficult path of his conscience by betraying his family.