An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge Characters
The main characters in "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" are Peyton Farquhar, Mrs. Farquhar, and the federal soldiers and scout.
- Peyton Farquhar is an Alabama planter whose romantic illusions about the Confederate cause lead him to attempt to burn Owl Creek Bridge to stop the Union advance into Alabama. As he prepares to be hanged, he imagines escaping and returning to his family.
- Mrs. Farquhar brings water to a gray-clad soldier “with her own white hands,” demonstrating her love of the Confederacy.
- The federal soldiers and scout, members of the Union army, are responsible for luring Peyton into his crime and then executing him for it.
All Characters
Characters: Peyton Farquhar
Peyton Farquhar is the sole defined character in this story. A southern planter of about thirty-five years of age who has been apprehended by the Union Army for attempting to destroy the railroad bridge at Owl Creek, Farquhar is to be hanged for this crime. From Farquhar's perspective, Bierce also examines the human desire to escape or cheat death and speculates on what occurs physically and psychologically at the time of death. Although...
(Read more)Mrs. Farquhar
Mrs. Farquhar, the sole female character in the narrative, is largely viewed through Peyton's perspective. She embodies the feminine ideal for her husband, epitomizing domesticity, sweetness, and delicacy. Though she appears somewhat one-dimensional, she is portrayed with a measure of agency, particularly when she eagerly serves water to the Confederate soldier—a gesture that highlights her loyalty to the Southern cause, paralleling her husband’s convictions. Her actions and the description of her fair hands reveal her complicity in sustaining her husband's plantation lifestyle, underscoring the cost of their shared privilege on the backs of enslaved people.
Despite these subtle hints of agency, Mrs. Farquhar's characterization is marred by gender bias. She is excluded from significant conversations, as demonstrated when Peyton only inquires about military matters from the scout in her absence. Additionally, Peyton's unilateral decision to embark on his dangerous mission without consulting her implies a disregard for her perspective, casting her as a victim of societal gender norms. This portrayal underscores her role as a silent sufferer within the bounds of her era’s gender expectations.
Expert Q&A
What is the significance of Mrs. Farquhar's character in An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge?
Mrs. Farquhar in "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" symbolizes home and family, making Peyton Farquhar more sympathetic as he longs to return to her. However, her presence also highlights his recklessness, as his risky actions prioritizing the Southern cause over his family. Her role adds depth to Farquhar's character, making readers question his motivations and ultimately feel conflicted about his fate. Her actions, like fetching water, emphasize the irony and consequences of Farquhar's choices.
The Federal Soldiers and Scout
The Federal soldiers, described by their ranks and functions—such as sergeants, captains, marksmen, and sentinels—are collectively presented as a monolithic force. This depiction underscores the dehumanizing nature of military institutions that transform individuals into mere components of a larger, impersonal machine. The soldiers, unnamed and uniformed, stand in rigid, unnatural positions, separated from one another, emphasizing their mechanical and robotic nature.
This portrayal aligns with the story’s antiwar sentiment, highlighting how the soldiers' meticulous, emotionless execution of their duties reflects a desensitization to violence. The troops' anonymity starkly contrasts with Peyton’s personal struggle, further emphasizing the impersonal brutality of war. Among these soldiers, the Northern scout stands out for his role in orchestrating Peyton’s downfall. Disguised in Confederate attire, the scout’s deception and lack of empathy underscore the moral depravity condoned by wartime. By baiting Peyton into committing a crime that leads to his execution, the scout embodies the wartime ethos where deceit and manipulation are tools of survival and victory.
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