Barn Burning: The Symbolism of Fire William Faulkner's short story, "Barn Burning," discusses the problems of the sharecropper, in the late nineteenth century South. Primarily a story about the relationship between father and son, the story presents itself through the use of symbolism. The most vital symbol in the story is fire. The fire symbolizes the father's anger and, his lack of respect for other peoples property. The story uses the symbolism of fire in two ways. The story begins and ends with the burning down of a barn. When Abner becomes angry, rather than searching for a reasonable answer fo