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...

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.

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.