Themes: Time and Mortality
Time figures as a central theme in the story. The ticking of Peyton’s pocket watch moments before his hanging, the primary image of time’s passing, is described as “the stroke of a blacksmith’s hammer upon the anvil.” Just like the metal upon the anvil, Peyton is about to be transformed by time. The clock’s ticking becomes a death knell. Not only does the story explore the idea that time can be unforgiving, it also shows how perception defines time.
Bierce explores the complex nature of time first with a misdirection: when Peyton is still alive, he perceives his ticking clock as a slowing, deepening gong. This demonstrates how time can flow differently and more slowly in a time of anxiety and crisis. Since Peyton is waiting to be hanged, his perception of time is altered. Therefore, it is natural that when Peyton falls in the water and experiences each moment with slowness and clarity that the reader assumes he is perceiving real time differently.
The twist in the story is that what Peyton is experiencing is not real time at all but a kind of dreamed or imagined time. Bierce implicitly poses the question of whether this dreamed time is less real. While the passage of time is inevitable, as the story shows, the experience of time is more complicated and subjective. This subjective nature of time is expressed through the changing of tenses towards the end of the story. As Peyton glimpses his wife, the narrative switches into the present tense to suggest how keenly he is experiencing time. Yet in the very next sentence, it snaps into the past tense: “Peyton Farquhar was dead; his body, with a broken neck, swung
gently from side to side beneath the timbers of the Owl Creek bridge.” This final shift establishes that the escape from time is impossible.
Time is treated as inescapable and circular, as emphasized by Peyton’s sojourn in the woods. The forest, which can be seen as symbolizing time, seems “interminable,” and he lays “his course by the rounding sun.” Even when day gives way to night and back to day again, Peyton ultimately arrives where he started: the time and place of his hanging. This circularity is indicative of the cycle of life and death.
Closely linked with the theme of time is that of life and mortality. Peyton’s experience of time and life heightens as he approaches and undergoes death. Indeed, as Peyton makes the passage to death, his senses are described as “preternaturally keen and alert.” Reality for him becomes vivid, exaggerated, and hallucinatory, as evidenced by his ability to hear the beating of a dragonfly’s wings. This shows Peyton’s need to record every bit of reality and moment of life in the face of death. Significantly, dragonflies and gnats, which Peyton now notices, are themselves symbols of the brevity of life.
Though the inevitability of death and the march of time may seem to be bleak themes, the text is not nihilistic. It subtly suggests that because life is short, it must be appreciated while there is time. As Peyton nears his end, he thinks of his wife and children, the things which mattered most in his life. It is the precious time with his family he sacrificed in the quest for false glory.
Expert Q&A
What does Bierce's story imply about human psychology when facing death?
Bierce's story suggests that in the face of death, the human mind can create its own reality to cope with extreme stress. In "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge," Peyton imagines an escape that feels real despite logical inconsistencies. This illustrates how the mind can accept illusions to avoid unpleasant truths, such as impending death. The story also reflects a universal preference for hopeful outcomes, fooling both the protagonist and the reader.
What does Farquhar visualize before his hanging and how does it connect with his journey?
Before his hanging, Peyton Farquhar visualizes his wife and children, focusing on them to ensure his last thoughts are happy. This visualization connects with his imagined journey, where he escapes execution and undertakes an epic trek to reunite with them. Despite the obstacles, his thoughts of family propel him forward, culminating in the vision of his wife waiting joyfully at home. This entire mental escape serves as his final, poignant farewell before death.
How are the condemned man's perceptions of time and motion distorted in "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge"?
As he waits to be hanged, the condemned man's distorted perceptions of time and motion emphasize slowness in the water's motion and lengthening intervals and unknown distance in his watch's ticking.
What is the significance of Farquhar's heightened attention to detail in An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge?
Farquhar's heightened attention to detail in "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" serves two purposes: it lends realism to his imagined escape, making readers initially believe in its reality, and it subtly indicates the illusory nature of his experience. The vivid, impossible details—such as seeing insects on leaves while submerged—suggest the fantasy of his escape, yet readers often overlook these clues due to empathy for Farquhar’s plight and desire for his survival.
In "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge," can Farquhar's death reality correlate to his imaginary journey sensations?
Peyton Farquhar's imagined escape journey in "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" correlates with his physical sensations from being hanged. His swollen neck, protruding eyes, and thirst are real symptoms caused by the noose's pressure, while his inability to feel the ground reflects his suspension. These sensations, typically associated with strangulation, manifest in his mind as part of a vivid, final illusion, providing false hope during his last conscious moments.
In "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge," why is Farquhar's death on a bridge significant?
Farquhar's death on a bridge in "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" is significant for its irony and symbolism. Bridges symbolize unity, yet Farquhar's execution highlights division during the Civil War. As a Southern sympathizer, Farquhar's attempt to destroy the bridge, instigated by a Union spy, symbolizes the South's desire to sever ties with the Union. His death on the bridge underscores the futility of this destructive intent and the war's divisive nature.
Did Farquhar's dream ease his acceptance of death in "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge"?
Farquhar's dream did not ease his acceptance of death. Instead, it reflects his desperate desire for self-preservation and return to his family, rather than dying for a noble cause. Ambrose Bierce, known for his realism and cynicism, portrays Farquhar's thoughts as focused on escape and survival. The narrative leads readers to believe in his escape, only to reveal his death as a stark, realistic conclusion, emphasizing Farquhar's unfulfilled wish to return home.
Peyton Farquhar's Life, Struggles, and Death in "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge"
Peyton Farquhar, a Southern plantation owner and Confederate sympathizer, is the central character in Ambrose Bierce's "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge." Deceived by a Union scout posing as a Confederate soldier, Farquhar attempts to sabotage Owl Creek Bridge and is captured. At the story's start, he faces execution by hanging on the bridge. Despite an imagined escape during his final moments, he ultimately dies, hanged by the Union soldiers for his actions.
Get Ahead with eNotes
Start your 48-hour free trial to access everything you need to rise to the top of the class. Enjoy expert answers and study guides ad-free and take your learning to the next level.
Already a member? Log in here.
