Heroic Life Decisions: Comparing Sarty in "Barn Burning" by William Faulkner and Sammy in "A&P" by John Updike

Upon coming of age, a young man will face an internal struggle between what he feels is the "right" thing to do and what society expects. The two stories, "Barn Burning" by William Faulkner and "A&P" by John Updike, thematically represent these struggles through their main characters, Sarty and Sammy respectively. Although these two stories differ in setting and character, Sarty and Sammy are required to make a decision which will affect the rest of their lives; they inevitably make a heroic life decision and step out of the constraints of what is expected and do what they feel is ri…