As a mercenary, Abner had no true alliance with either the North or South. In fact, the main reason Abner had joined the war was in order to make a large profit, no matter which side the money was coming from. In addition, Abner’s ‘failure to side’ or join an alliance with either side of the Civil War demonstrates his inability to accept his role in his post-war society. Reverting to his mercenary ways, Abner has no alliance with those who accompany him in the agricultural industry. This allows Abner to shift from aiding his surrounding peers to burning down their barns when they upset him in some …show more content…
Although there isn’t a significant amount of information to prove that Sarty’s father is dead, Sarty truly believes that his father is dead. This leads to Sarty's guilt overcoming him due to the fact that he had spoken out against his father, against his bloodline. Sarty probably wanted to redeem his father after selling him out as the barn burner. However, to say his father was in the war as a redeeming quality is quite ironic. This is due to the fact that Abner was not in the Civil War in order to fight or choose an alliance but, rather to steal and make a profit. Abner didn’t fight or prove his worth with in the war, he simply joined only for the sole reason of