KATIE MARIE

Beware the Noose

Today I want to write to you about An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge, a short story written in 1890 by Ambrose Bierce and published in The San Francisco Examiner. Later it was published in the book collection, Tales of Soldiers and Civilians.

It is perhaps one of the most well known shorts in American literature, it has been adapted numerous times in film, television, radio and comics, even an opera.

Summary

The story starts with Peyton Farquhar, a man who is being prepared for execution by hanging from a railroad bridge.

While waiting to die Farquhar thinks of his wife and children but is distracted by the ticking of his watch, which to him is very loud. He thinks about escaping by jumping off the bridge and swimming to safety but is dropped by the soldiers executing him before he can free his hands.

Read more: An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge Review

We then see a flash back of Farquhar and his wife at home one evening when a soldier rides up to the gate. Farquhar learns from the solider that Union troops have seized the Owl Creek railroad bridge and repaired it. Farquhar is convinced that he might be able to burn the bridge down if he can slip past its guards.

It is revealed that the soldier is a disguised Union scout who has lured Farquhar into a trap as any civilian caught interfering with the railroads will be hanged.

The story returns to the present, and the rope around Farquhar’s neck breaks when he falls from the bridge into the creek. Farquhar frees himself and swims to safety. Once he is out of range, he leaves the creek to begin the journey to his home. However, on the journey he begins to hallucinate, seeing strange constellations and hearing whispered voices in an unknown language.

He finds himself at home the next morning, but before he can go inside he feels a heavy blow upon the back of his neck; there is a loud noise and a flash of white,

“Then all is darkness and silence”.

It is shown at the end that Farquhar never escaped at all; he imagined the entire third part of the story during the time between falling through the bridge and the noose breaking his neck.

My Thoughts – General 

I liked this short, its an effective little story, the third act in particular I enjoy. The knowledge that all this is happening inside Farquhar’s mind as he falls gives the hallucinations far more omph than they might have had otherwise.

My thoughts – Characters 

Farquhar is an interesting character, while I found it initially hard to connect with him in the end I couldn’t help but feel for him just a little. His actions are believable and I love how his perception of time changes given the situation he finds himself in.

My Thoughts – Setting 

The setting is one that sticks with you, I could clearly picture the railroad bridge and the woods as Farquhar journeyed home. The description is enough without being overly tedious or heavy.

My Thoughts – Plot 

The story is a simple one, but I remember the first time I read it and thought it was a pretty linear narrative. I didn’t pick up on the later act being in Farquhar’s head as he fell. Once I’d finished with it, it stuck with me.

It’s difficult to say if the story is suspenseful or not due to how it presents itself. I admit I felt suspense, even once Farquhar had fallen from the bridge. I half expected him to get caught or for something supernatural to be hunting him in the woods. To find out it was his own consciousness was a good pay off.

The stakes were clearly established even if they were proven false at the end. Farquhar’s desire to return home safely was a good clear motivation.

My Thoughts – Theme

Wiser people than me have spoken at length about the theming of this story, discussing the futility of war, the ease at which life is lost, death, dignity in death etc. I don’t want to repeat it here.

What I will say is that the complete pointlessness of Farquhar’s death struck me. He was sought out, tricked and eventually killed for what? Because he supported the Confederate? He was a civilian not a solider. The whole act of the soldiers deliberately seeking him out felt petty and the whole thing pointless. Farquhar’s own desire to interfere with the railroad knowing the consequences also left me with a bitter taste in my mouth.

Over all this was a well written short story that has stood the test of time. I strongly recommend it.