An Analysis of Peyton Farquhar in "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" by Ambrose Bierce - Essay Sample

Introduction

Peyton Farquhar is the main character in the "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge," story by Ambrose Bierce. Ambrose Bierce has given a lot of attention to the protagonist's real character. The author describes Peyton Farquhar with "—a straight nose, firm mouth, broad forehead, from which his long, dark hair was combed straight back, falling behind his ears to the collar of his well-fitting frock coat"( Bierce np), a courtesy than no other character get in the story. As a reader, you wonder why a polished, affluent man and no “vulgar assassin.” as Peyton Farquhar be up for hanging. The characterizations play on the reader's sympathy giving the impression that he was a hero undeserving of a cruel death. Throughout the story, the protagonist seeks to prove his heroic and brave characters. The author's exceptional attention to Peyton Farquhar details draws the reader's attention into wondering whether he was the villain in the story or the hero.

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The protagonist is a southern white male, 35 years of age. The author refers to him "The man who was engaged in being hanged was apparently about thirty-five years of age… secessionist and ardently devoted to the Southern cause” (Bierce np). His southern roots have a lot to do with his relationship with others in the story and his motives. Patyron is a round character because, from the story, he plays different roles. At one point, he is a husband, a father, and a southern soldier resisting the union. He puts his interest before those of his family. The story features other characters; however, most parts of the story revolve around the protagonist's life and death.

Peyton Farquhar comes from a background of plantation owners highly respected in Alabama. Peyton Farquhar is therefore, a white man privileged in his time. The Peyton Farquhar character revolves around the civil war era when people were either with the government or against. The protagonist, however, is against the union, which makes him a target by the government. He is described as a secessionist against the union and one willing to do anything to serve the southern course. The author describes Peyton Farquhar, "ardently devoted to the Southern cause” (Bierce np).

Peyton Farquhar had an easy life as his father's son, and this sheltered life fails to prepare him for the rigor in the civil war front lines. It is explained in part two of the story that Peyton Farquhar was unable to join the confederate for vague reasons. However, the protagonist referred to himself as “a civilian who was at heart a soldier” (Bierce np). He desired to display his bravery and heroism as a man of the South since he could not become a soldier. He embarks on proving his heroic nature by fighting for the southern course. He desired to be more than the son of a farmer he was, but his naivety led him to the traps of the union soldiers—a union known to assassinate anyone against their ideologies. According to the author, “The liberal military code makes provision for hanging many kinds of persons, and gentlemen are not excluded" (Bierce np).

Although to the South, Peyton Farquhar is a hero, as a reader, one begins to poke holes into the protagonist's morality and heroic nature. The civil war took place in an era when the southerners did not want to let go of slavery. Therefore, the protagonist's support for the southern course was for all the wrong and unheroic reasons. Peyton Farquhar was a villain to the oppressed minorities in the South, Peyton Farquhar courses against the union prevented freedom for all. Peyton Farquhar was like other slave owners and being born in the plantation. He was aware of the oppression the slaves underwent. The author describes the protagonist, "like other slave owners a politician" (Bierce np), the author intends to remind the leader of slavery in the South. Therefore, Peyton Farquhar was serving the interest of the oppressive southern politicians. He probably thought his dedication to the south course would politically win him a position amongst the southern plantation owners and politicians. The author reminds the reader that Peyton Farquhar "assented to at least a part of the frankly villainous dictum that all is fair in love and war” (Bierce np).

With ignorance, the protagonist places himself in the hands of the soldiers, making him unheroic. Although Peyton Farquhar perceived himself as a smart southern man, he was not so smart tactically. He befriends federal scout walking past his home and begun talking about union soldiers' movement. "While she was fetching the water, her husband approached the dusty horseman and inquired eagerly for news from the front…. The Yanks are repairing the railroad… are getting ready for another advance” (Bierce np). He never took the time to interrogate the scout; instead, he began asking about the union soldiers' plan, overlooking the traitor and informants. A smart man would have wondered how the scout knew so much about the union soldiers if he was not an informant set to trick the resisting southerners.

Peyton Farquhar's plans were also unheroic because he intended to burn the bridge that was used to ferry food supplies and resources to the Union soldiers, which made him a villain. Peyton Farquhar planned to apply acquired knowledge from the disguised scout to fight the opponent, but the opponents deceived the protagonist into their trap, making him unwise and no so heroic. Peyton Farquhar also lacked honest. The informant scout was more reliable. The scout told the protagonist that “…any civilian caught interfering with the railroad, its bridges, tunnels, or trains will be summarily hanged” (Bierce np), an honest answer but protagonist planned to deceivingly use the information acquired from the scout to attack the Union soldiers. It is sympathetic how the scout managed to ruler Peyton Farquhar into his death. However, it is fine to say the protagonist's arrogance of being smart compared to the enemies’ leads him to the soldiers’ hand. A man who is supposed to be heroic to the South turns out ignorant and untactful, therefore, not so noble.

Although Peyton Farquhar was caught and hanged some people, view his action as courageous. He was daring enough to plan burning down the bridge. According to the protagonist, "there is no service too humble for him to perform in aid of the South, no adventure too perilous for him to undertake." Although the scout warned him of the proposed punishment, which is death, by hanging for any civilian trying to tamper with the union soldiers' plans, he went ahead to the to burn the bridge down. Only brave and heroic people have the guts to take the challenge.

In the story, the author has used fantasy, and it is in those moments of imagination that Peyton Farquhar is gentle, and heroic character is illustrated. Peyton Farquhar, in his vision he bravely thought of an escape from the soldiers. In his last moment before hanging, what the protagonist desire most is to close over the southern lines where the soldiers were prohibited, and from there, he would run home to his wife and children. “My home, thank God, is as yet outside their lines; my wife and little ones are still beyond the invader's farthest advance.” (Bierce np). His thoughts of his family and his desire to reunite with them makes him a hero, a gentleman who to die with good memory of those he loved.

He also imaginatively dies trying to rescue himself from jaws of death to reach his family. He is also heroic in how he managed to escape death by hanging, drowning and shooting. Although a fantasy, the soldiers hanged the protagonist; however, the rope did not hold, unconscious he fell into the water. The soldier quickly began shooting in the water to finish him. Although his hands were tied, he managed to untie himself. He was tired, in pain and weak, he states, “His neck ached horribly; his brain was on fire; his heart, which had been fluttering faintly, gave a great leap” he managed to swim downstream escaping the soldiers’ wrath. His undying will to survive in times of danger makes him resilient and brave characters of a hero. He congratulates his efforts in his unconscious struggle to escape while drowning, saying to himself, "what magnificent, what superhuman strength! Ah, that was a fine endeavor! Bravo! The cord fell away" (Bierce, np). The protagonist, in his fantasy imagination, he died a hero striving to reunite with his family. Instead of panicking, he chooses to fixate his memory to his family and the beauty of life; he chooses to die in honor than dishonor.

Conclusion

By reading the story, you will realize the protagonist existed during the civil war era for people from the South who were slaves; they would see Peyton Farquhar as a villain, a man selfish to his family. He chooses the southern resistance above his family. He also villain for his intention to burn the bridge and mores his support for the south movement against slavery reforms, and he was willing to die for the South rather than making changes for the slaves. However, it is impossible to see the bravely and heroic nature of Peyton Farquhar in the story. He staunchly supported the southern course whole-heartedly; he boldly went to burn the bridge knowing very well he risked hanging. He is also heroic in the way he keeps his family memories with him in his death. In his fantasy, he bravely imagined himself heroically escaping through his death.

Works Cited

Bierce, Ambrose. An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge. Strelbytskyy Multimedia Publishing, 2019. http://idiomas.colegioarturosoria.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/an-occurrence-at-owl-creek-bridge.pdf