The Quest for Heroism in An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge In An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge, Amb
rose Bierce portrays the tragic end of the life of the main character, Peyton Farquhar. Paradoxical
ly, Farquhar strives for recognition as a hero, but dies dishonorably. During the Civil War, Farquh
ar is denied acceptance into the Confederate Army. Still wanting to be a hero, he is caught attempt
ing to burn Owl Creek Bridge. Ironically, he is hanged on that very bridge as punishment. Having h
ad his own experience as a Union officer in the Civil War, Ambrose Bierce illustrates how sometimes
the desire for acknowledgment can become so strong that it overshadows the possible consequences, an
d often times the worst happens. Through setting, characterization, and conflict, Bierce emphasizes
that we should always bear in our minds what the consequences of our actions might be. Peyton Farqu
har's life was ordinary before he attempted this scandalous act. He was a well-to-do planter living
on a plantation with a wife and children. While he was denied entry into the army, he still did wh
at he could to help the South. "No adventure was too perilous for him to undertake." As he awaitin
g his death, his mind races with thoughts of escape. Miraculously, it seems, he does escape and ama
zingly makes it through perilous situations, which would have otherwise killed him. As he is about
to reach his wife, the story reverts back to reality, and Farquhar is hung. His daydream shows that
his unconscious mind also made a last attempt at heroism, which allowed him to escape from the horr
or being put to death. The setting intensifies the irony by Farquhar's life being destroyed at the
very place that he wanted to destroy. This depicts that the one thing you desire so much for in lif
e is actually the thing that destroys you. Looking back on the story, the reader realizes that the
setting gave clues that Farquhar's escape is only in his mind. Every small detail of his surroundin
gs is described in great detail. He could see every leaf on every tree and every bug on every leaf.
There is almost no dialogue throughout the story, which allows the setting to be the main focus of
his fantasy escape. The reader does not know much about Peyton Farquhar's personality, other than h
e was devoted to the South and to his family. He was "the character of a civilian who was at heart
a soldier." Farquhar was selfless in doing deeds for the Confederate Army. He was very dedicated,
but this dedication caused him not to think of the price he might have to pay. He loved his family
very much, which is described when right before his death he "closed his eyes in order to fix his l
ast thoughts upon his wife and children." There is also irony in the fact that it was recognition h
e was striving for in reality, but in his vision of escape he was striving to arrive home to his fam
ily. The most important part of life to him was not the recognition that he wanted; instead it was
actually his family. Sometimes we lose sight of the most important things in life, and then a major
event presents us a different perspective. Unfortunately, sometimes this realization comes too lat
e. The central conflict is between Farquhar and his own desires. He faced his own internal conflict
in his final moments of life. Farquhar sacrificed his life for a cause that he thought was worth i
t, his own recognition. His thoughts differed greatly between reality and fantasy. In reality, his
risked his life for "the opportunity for distinction." He was "longing for the release of his ener
gies, and the larger life of the soldier." In his fantasy, his thoughts were focused on making it h
ome to his wife and children. In the end, his hope of distinction is shattered, and his life comes
to an end. While people must follow their own desires to accomplish what they want to in life, it is
also important to think through our actions and contemplate what the possible outcomes might be. F
ulfilling our desires is an essential ingredient to happiness, but if these desires get carried away
, the possibility for the worst can happen. Ambrose Bierce uses setting, characterization, and conf
lict to support this theme in An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge. Through the experience of Peyton F
arquhar's story, readers can gain a new perspective on how significant our impulses can be. People
can learn to take action while keeping in mind what the impact of their actions might be and how the
y will affect themselves and others. quest heroism occurrence creek bridge occurrence creek bridge a
mbrose bierce portrays tragic life main character peyton farquhar paradoxically farquhar strives rec
ognition hero dies dishonorably during civil farquhar denied acceptance into confederate army still
wanting hero caught attempting burn creek bridge ironically hanged that very punishment having exper
ience union officer civil ambrose bierce illustrates sometimes desire acknowledgment become strong t
hat overshadows possible consequences often times worst happens through setting characterization con
flict bierce emphasizes that should always bear minds what consequences actions might peyton life or
dinary before attempted this scandalous well planter living plantation with wife children while deni
ed entry into army still what could help south adventure perilous undertake awaiting death mind race
s with thoughts escape miraculously seems does escape amazingly makes through perilous situations wh
ich would have otherwise killed about reach wife story reverts back reality hung daydream shows unco
nscious mind also made last attempt heroism which allowed escape from horror being death setting int
ensifies irony life being destroyed very place wanted destroy this depicts thing desire much actuall
y thing destroys looking back story reader realizes setting gave clues only mind every small detail
surroundings described great detail could every leaf every tree leaf there almost dialogue throughou
t story which allows main focus fantasy reader does know much about peyton personality other than de
voted south family character civilian heart soldier selfless doing deeds confederate army very dedic
ated this dedication caused think price might have loved family much described when right before dea
th closed eyes order last thoughts upon wife children there also irony fact recognition striving rea
lity vision striving arrive home family most important part recognition wanted instead actually some
times lose sight most important things then major event presents different perspective unfortunately
sometimes realization comes late central conflict between desires faced internal conflict final mom
ents sacrificed cause thought worth thoughts differed greatly between reality fantasy risked opportu
nity distinction longing release energies larger soldier fantasy were focused making home children h
ope distinction shattered comes while people must follow their desires accomplish what they want als
o important think through actions contemplate possible outcomes might fulfilling desires essential i
ngredient happiness these carried away possibility worst happen ambrose uses characterization suppor
t theme occurrence experience readers gain perspective significant impulses people learn take action
while keeping impact their actions they will affect themselves othersEssay, essays, termpaper, term
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