Archetype Analysis of “an Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" by Ambrose Bierce
The Occurrence of Perception
One thing all humans must experience through out life is the uncanny sense of death lingering just around the corner, in dark alleyways, and on the faces of strangers. We all have our own way of coping with the notion that there is an expiration date on our lives, may it be through grievance and fear, or with boldness and aspiration for what is to become of us afterwards. “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge” by Ambrose Bierce uses the situational archetype of facing death, as well as the anti-villain and scapegoat character archetypes, to illustrate mans’ perspective on the passing of life and coming to death in times of danger and misfortune.
The story takes place during the Civil War, in northern Alabama, and shows the emotions and perceptions of a man shortly before, and during, his death. The man, who is known as a highly respected politician, a planter, and a slave owner, as well as for his devotion to the Confederacy, is set to be hanged by the officials of the Union army. He arrived in this unfortunate situation due to misleading information, which was given to him by a disguised Union scout, thus coaxing him to the Owl Creek Bridge with the intent to burn it down in tribute to the southern cause. He was instead bound with cords and ropes and sentenced to death. The scapegoat archetype is present here in the aspect that the protagonist of the story was tricked into his death, forced to take the blame, regardless of whether he is actually at fault.
An occurrence is defined as an event or happening, but the ‘currence’ part comes from the Latin term, ‘currere’, which means ‘to run’ (Dictionary.com). Many would relay that with the English word, current, which can represent any number of things having to do with life, time, or freedom. The author uses many symbolic archetypes through out the story, such as the flowing stream and the bridge, as well as the ticking of the protagonists’ watch. The bridge, originally destroyed by
One thing all humans must experience through out life is the uncanny sense of death lingering just around the corner, in dark alleyways, and on the faces of strangers. We all have our own way of coping with the notion that there is an expiration date on our lives, may it be through grievance and fear, or with boldness and aspiration for what is to become of us afterwards. “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge” by Ambrose Bierce uses the situational archetype of facing death, as well as the anti-villain and scapegoat character archetypes, to illustrate mans’ perspective on the passing of life and coming to death in times of danger and misfortune.
The story takes place during the Civil War, in northern Alabama, and shows the emotions and perceptions of a man shortly before, and during, his death. The man, who is known as a highly respected politician, a planter, and a slave owner, as well as for his devotion to the Confederacy, is set to be hanged by the officials of the Union army. He arrived in this unfortunate situation due to misleading information, which was given to him by a disguised Union scout, thus coaxing him to the Owl Creek Bridge with the intent to burn it down in tribute to the southern cause. He was instead bound with cords and ropes and sentenced to death. The scapegoat archetype is present here in the aspect that the protagonist of the story was tricked into his death, forced to take the blame, regardless of whether he is actually at fault.
An occurrence is defined as an event or happening, but the ‘currence’ part comes from the Latin term, ‘currere’, which means ‘to run’ (Dictionary.com). Many would relay that with the English word, current, which can represent any number of things having to do with life, time, or freedom. The author uses many symbolic archetypes through out the story, such as the flowing stream and the bridge, as well as the ticking of the protagonists’ watch. The bridge, originally destroyed by
Cited: "archetype." Dictionary.com Unabridged. Random House, Inc. 13 Jun. 2012. . Bierce, Ambrose. "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge." Literature: An Introduction to Reading and Writing. Ed. Edgar Roberts. 5th ed. Glenview: Pearson Education, 2012. 83-88. Print. "occur." Dictionary.com Unabridged. Random House, Inc. 14 Jun. 2012. .