. The fire in "Barn Burning," however, is reflected in Colonel Sartoris, who betrays his family and risks his father's wrath to prevent him from using fire as his avenger.
Just before London's protagonist dies, he entertains the idea that he should perhaps try to die with dignity. But as London explains, his unimaginative protagonist who cannot understand the significance of things does not think of his actions to prevent death in those terms. Rather:
[h]is idea of it was that he had been making a fool of himself, running around like a chicken with its head cut off--such was the simile that occurred to him. Well, he was bound to freeze anyway, and he might as well take it decently (98).
The protagonist's view of his failed struggle to save his own life reveals his true outlook on life. He does not reflect on the ironies that have placed him in this situation or rail against his bad fortune. He accepts the inevitability of his death and believes that his attempts to prolong his life are foolish. He has no internal struggle. Rather, he accepts that
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