ome deep mainspring of his fatherÆs being, as the element of steel or of powder spoke to other men, as the one weapon for the preservation of integrity,ö (Faulkner, p. 218).
In reality, Abner is not a man of truth or integrity. Faulkner illustrates this point by using blood as a symbol. We are told that Sarty carries the ôterrible burden of being young, the light weight of his few years,ö (Faulkner, p. 225). In other words, Sarty