Analysis Of The Pit And The Pendulum

“The Pit and the Pendulum” is a short story written by American author, Edgar Allen Poe. The story conveys a man captured during the Spanish Inquisition, who must fight for his freedom and life. The story picks up just as the narrator is waking up in his dark, confined dungeon. In this dark, grim story, Poe flawlessly uses indirect characterization to convey and depict the bravery and hope of the narrator while struggling for his life and freedom.
The story begins as the narrator has just woken up after passing out. He finds himself lying on the floor of a dark, damp cell, and after some time, he has an idea. The narrator displays his bravery when he uses his robe to mark the wall and circles the cell. The narrator has no idea what may lie in his cell, yet he ventures onward. Furthermore, as the story progresses Poe shows that the character’s bravery increases. Poe writes, “… I proceeded with extreme caution, for the floor, although seemingly o solid material, was treacherous with slime. At length, however, I took courage, and did not hesitate to step firmly.” This narrator realizes he does not

The narrator finds himself strapped to a wooden frame after waking from a induced sleep. The wooden frame is in the path of a pendulum with a razor sharp blade swinging overhead. The narrator immediately deduces that the blade will soon make contact with his body. Rather than the narrator accepting his fate, Poe details the narrator’s hope; “The first stroke of the razor like crescent athwart any portion of the band, would so detach that it might be unwound from my person”. The narrator has found hope in the the most bleak of situations. Through the progression the story the previous plan is thwarted, yet the narrator devises a new plan that frees him from the impending death of the pendulum. Poe clearly portrays the hope of the narrator by detailing every plan the narrator devises and the trust placed in the