Death In Bierce's Coup De Grace

Bierce's "Coup de Grace" introduces the reader to three characters: Major Halcrow, Captain Madwell and Sergeant Halcrow, all of whom are struggling with the conflicts that arise within themselves and between each other during war. The death scene in this work sheds light upon a raging hatred two men have for one another and a bond between two soldiers that impacts a crucial decision. The death scene illustrates a wretched and macabre death, that of which no man should have to be subjected to. Sergeant Halcrow is first found suffering through excruciating pain because of a pig that has eaten at his stomach leaving a "wide, ragged opening in the abdomen…[and], protruding from it…a loop of small intestine." (2) Captain Madwell sees his friend
suffering and in an attempt to put him out of his misery, cocks his pistol, places the weapon at the side of Halcrow's head and pulls the trigger. When Madwell fails to hear a gunshot and realizes that there are no more bullets, he resorts to using his sword as his second weapon of choice. "Grasping the hilt with both hands," (3) he drives the sword just over the heart of his dying friend, and once the blade pierces the body and plunges into the earth, Halcrow attempts to withdraw the blade, consequently enlarging the wound. To begin with, the death of Sergeant Halcrow emphasizes on the hatred between Captain Madwell and Major Halcrow.
The introduction of characters comes with a description of a "natural antipathy which circumstances had nourished and strengthened to an active animosity,"(2) concerning the Captain and Major. The hatred they share is so intense that it is enough to wish the other one dead. When Madwell suggests that he is of the "opinion that it would be better if [Major Halcrow] were dead," (3) it addresses a casualness they both have towards the idea of death. The feeling of hate is so strong between the two men that they fail to realize the severity of their words and desires. Their hatred sets the stage for the reader, such that upon the arrival of the three men "two [being] hospital attendants…the third [is] Major Creede Halcrow," (3) the reader is left with a climactic ending. The recognition of the enormous hatred between Major Halcrow and Captain Madwell leaves the reader to decide how such an intense feeling will manifest into action. Furthermore the death scene and Sergeant Halcrow's reaction to the situation accentuates the assumptions Captain Madwell has concerning the desire of his friend. Madwell first finds his friend mortally wounded and looks at him desperate to find some sort of relief for his dying "subordinate and friend." (2) The Captain and General had "grown up together from childhood," (1) and so, when he stares into Sergeant Halcrow's face, "there [is]
no misreading [the] look the captain [has] too frequently seen…in the eyes [of soldiers]." (2) Madwell believes that the expression on Sergeant Halcrow's face is much like the many others he has seen during his life of war and assumes it to be a "silent plea…the coup de grace." (3) Madwell being the friend that he is, is only looking to do what is best for Sergeant Halcrow and fulfill his request that in his attempt to do so may have assumed what it is, without positively knowing. After Madwell stabs Sergeant Halcrow through the heart, Halcrow makes "a violent but misconceived. vain effort to withdraw the blade." (3) This futile attempt to pull out the blade demonstrates the possible misunderstanding Madwell may have concerning the blank look in his friends eyes. That being said, the death scene in this work brings about an emphasis on the animosity between two soldiers and questions a decision made by a comrade based upon an interpretation of an expression. Man has the ability to have intense feelings for one another, which often results in making decisions that can be