A Death at Owl Creek Bridge

“Death is a dignitary who when he comes announced is to be received with formal manifestations of respect, even by those most familiar with him. In the code of military etiquette silence and fixity are forms of deference.” Ambrose Bierce, An Occurrence on Owl Creek Bridge, Part 1

In Bierce’s short story, we are introduced to a man impending death who is later revealed to be Peyton Farquhar. Farquhar, who diligently sought to help the southern cause by attempting to join the Confederate Army, was being prepared to be hung at Owl Creek Bridge. What led to this was an unexpected visit from an inconspicuous Northern scout. Believing that the soldier who stopped at his home for a drink of water was a Confederate soldier, he asked him questions on how to support the cause and come against the efforts of the Northerners. The soldier explains to him that anyone conspiring against the Northerners would be hung.

 The disguised Northern soldier accepts the water and rides away. Now in Farquhar’s last moments, he considers just how he can escape from this death sentence. Once he is hung, he imagines himself falling into the creek, escaping strangulation. He releases his bounded hands and makes it past fire attempts to annihilate him. Finally, it seems he escapes and finds his way home to meet his beautiful wife when he is suddenly struck with a bright light. Farquhar was dead all along, and his lifeless body was left hung at the edge of Owl Creek Bridge.

The quote provided was particularly striking. It personified death in such a way, that it made you consider it with respect. While I’ll never view death in this way personally, I can definitely understand what Bierce is trying to convey. The quote explains that death is a dignitary, a figure or concept of prestige. It seems that because death is so certain, when it comes ‘announced’ or rather when approaching death is known, because it physically cannot be fought, it should be respected as a dignitary. Those familiar with it, like soldiers, understand this concept and treat it as such. Once death succeeds at its plot to steal, the body becomes a still and lifeless carcass. Military etiquette teaches soldiers to emulate death’s trace as it approaches.

While I don’t believe that death should be respected, I appreciate the concept drawn and the quote provided by Bierce for the poetry it is.  The quote was definitely used to foreshadow what would be the fate of Peyton Farquhar.