Analysis Of Bierce's An Occurrence At Owl Creek Bridge

Bierce did not like the standard endings that most readers have come to expect and enjoy. He wanted his work to standout in the readers something they would always remember. The short story, An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge, was broken up into three parts, each part describes various parts of the hanging. Bierce’s use of extremely detailed imagery and the accurate description of the goings on in the period, gives the reader an in-depth feeling of being with Peyton Farquhar, at the time of his hanging. The details that Bierce pays special attention to made it easier on the reader to imagine in their minds-eye. Bierce draws the reader in making them invest themselves in this character and on whether he survives his hanging or not. He writes …show more content…
“Circumstances of an imperious nature, which it unnecessary to relate here, had prevented him from taking service wit that gallant army…and chafed under the inglorious restraint, longing for the release of his energies, the larger life of the solider, the opportunity for distinction.” (Bierce 400-401) It stated pretty plainly that Peyton Farquhar and his family were all devoted to the southern cause, as he is being a “gentleman” and a plantation owner. He is also shown here to be all for the Civil War and the Confederate ideas that it supports. Farquhar has romanticized the idea of joining the Confederate army and the “glory” of fighting in the war would bring to him. Farquhar is said to long to be part of the army, the reader however is sadly uninformed about what keeps him from joining the Confederate Army. “Mrs. Farquhar was only too happy to serve him with her own white hands.” (Bierce 401) This quote says a lot his lifestyle and of his family, he was a slave owner, so he would have had a house slave that would normally have served guests. Though for this glorious confederate soldier, his wife wanted the honor to serve him with her own fine white southern lady hands. They have no idea that he is not actually a Confederate soldier but a Union solider in disguise, the solider tells them about the goings on down at the Owl Creek bridge. That the Union Army is going to …show more content…
The emotional conditions of a person can not only alter the person perceptions of the reality of their situation but also how fast or slow time actually passes. Bierce uses a quick pace in this short story to keep the reader from guessing what is really happening in the story. Bierce relies heavily on imagery in his story to completely bring the reader into his semi-fictional world. By focusing on the sights and sounds to give the story the feeling of