An Occurrence At Owl Creek Bridge Analysis Essay

Christian Hernandez Mr. Hoderewski English 10 CP 5/23/24 Analysis on “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge” The line between reality and illusion becomes almost non-existent when presented with death. In Ambrose Bierce’s “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge,” the story follows Peyton Farquhar, a confederate who is sentenced to be hanged by Union Soldiers. Standing on the bridge, he experiences a crazy fantasy of escaping. This illusion blurs the fine line between reality and the eagerness for survival. The author exposes the reader to the complexity of the brain and its psychology, as well as the survival instincts one obtains in a life or death situation. In “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge,” Peyton Farquhar demonstrates the survival instincts,

As Farquhar envisions his escape, his intense desire to survive puts him through a series of fantasies. For instance, Bierce writes "He swung through unthinkable arcs of oscillation, like a vast pendulum" (Bierce) depicting Farquhar's imagined struggle to free himself from the noose. This imagery shows his mind's attempt to fight against the reality of his situation. Another example is when Farquhar believes he has reached the river and can finally swim to freedom: "He unclosed his eyes and saw again the water below him. ‘If I could free my hands,’ he thought, ‘I might throw off the noose and spring into the stream’” (Bierce) This moment highlights his instinctive drive to escape, as his mind fabricates a scenario where survival seems attainable despite the dire circumstances. These imagined scenarios reflect Farquhar's survival instincts, demonstrating how the human mind can create powerful illusions when faced with death. Through these hallucinations, Bierce emphasizes the thinking that happens when one is confronted with their mortality, showing the process of the human psychology under

Bierce's story is known for its unexpected conclusion, which further proves its classification as a war story with a significant twist: "Bierce's subsequent republications of the story in three collections divided into 'Soldiers' and 'Civilians' sections further established the tale's identity as a war story with a 'twist' ending" (Bierce) This twist is a powerful illustration of how Farquhar's mind creates a compelling illusion of escape in his final moments. The deception at the heart of the story further shows the theme: "As generations of readers have learned, the action of 'An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge' turns on an elaborate deception" (Bierce) The deception includes both the Federal Scout's trick that leads to Farquhar’s capture and Farquhar’s own self-deception during his hallucination, revealing the depth of irrational thinking under extreme pressure. These layers of deception demonstrate how the mind can become unmoored from reality when faced with certain death. Bierce uses these twists to illustrate the line between illusion and reality, emphasizing how easily rational thought can be overpowered by fear in critical