Theme Of Death In An Occurrence At Owl Creek Bridge

The life and death of Peyton Farquhar is portrayed in “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge” by Ambrose Bierce. Through the use of compelling storytelling and vivid imagery, Ambrose Bierce takes the reader on an adventure like no other. Beginning moments before his death, Peyton Farquhar recalled his life, fantasized about escape, and unfortunately greeted death at the bitter end.
The story began with Peyton Farquhar awaiting his execution. He viewed his surroundings and commented on the private soldiers of the Federal army, the sergeant, and the sentinels. While the private soldiers were completing the preparations for his hanging, Peyton’s attention was brought to the stream below him. He was amazed by how slow the current appeared. He thought …show more content…
The rope around his neck had broken, and the battle for his life had begun. He fought to free his hands and remove the noose from his neck. Emerging at the surface of the water, he took in a breath and became excessively aware of his surroundings. Once he had fallen in the water, the soldiers on standby were now taking fire. Diving into the water to avoid the bullets and cannon fire, Peyton was able to make his way to the bank of the river where he wept with great joy. He fled into the forest and began his long journey home. Bruised and weary, he had found the right direction and continued on, unable to find evidence of human habitation along his way. Before he knew it however, he had made it home. As Peyton ran to greet his wife, he was overwhelmed with her beauty. However, before he was able to embrace her, darkness and silence overcame him. Only then it is revealed to the reader that this brilliant escape is only a creation of Peyton Farquhar’s mind. The reality was that he did not escape, and his body was hanging below the Owl Creek …show more content…
By starting the story with discussing a man who is about to face execution, the reader is curious to know who the man is and what he has done. By visiting the flashback, the reader can deduce the answers to these questions and see what lead Peyton Farquhar to his current fate. Through the use of vivid imagery, the reader experiences the struggle for survival and the exhilaration of a grand escape. Discovering that the escape is just a figment of Peyton Farquhar’s imagination leaves the reader with disappointment. Overall, the story of Peyton Farquhar’s life, his pretend escape, and unfortunate death is still a remarkable