THINKING QUESTION
Bierce is definitely sending a message to the reader about his feelings concerning the war & his feelings about the military. He does this through his descriptions, certain plot elements, & statements in the story.
Can you tell what Bierce's attitudes are by reading this short story? How do you think Bierce feels about the military & the war?
I think that he definitely had a side he preferred as he seemed to make the federalists look bad by using them to set up Fahrquhar, and to kill him. So I think he was on the other side. From reading the book I don't think he had a positive view of war, he seemed to use this book to say how dark it can turn people not just in battle, but just to fellow people by setting Fahrquhar up without a reason. it wasn't like he was fighting them they went to him and set him up. I think he wanted to show people the darkness and hatred of war. As well as the thought behind it Fahrquhar didn't seem to think about what his actions could bring if they went wrong. I think Bierce wanted us to see what can happen if we act in haste without regard for what can happen to us and others.
ReplyDeleteI think he just wanted to show the bleakness of war - especially the civil war - and how a country can even go to the level that they connive to kill a rich figure for the South. Even though he wasn't a captain or a general or anyone high -up in the war he was a figure for the Southerners and backed them up financially which i think made the North want to target him more. I definitely agree with Emilee though that Bierce likely could have been more biased towards the South.
DeleteMy thoughts exactly. When an army turns to the murder of innocent civilians, they have gone too far. I also found that Bierce appears to have a bias toward the south. All throughout the story, the Northern soldiers take the position of the enemy, using dishonorable tactics through spies and deception.
DeleteAfter doing some research and discovering that Bierce himself was a soldier in the Civil War, his views on war and the military became more clear. Due to this fact, we can gather that Bierce not only knows his way around the brutal reality of war, but also possesses an understanding of why war takes place and why it is sometimes necessary. But most of all, he seems to note how fatal going to war is for many within his character Peyton. In his dying moments, Peyton longs to wish his family a proper goodbye, much like suffering soldiers that Bierce may have encountered during his time at war.
ReplyDeleteGood job researching the author. That definitely makes sense that he would've been inspired by his own experience to write the book to give the world an inside glimpse of what it was like.
DeleteIt would make sense why he would pick a side while writing if he himself fought in the civil war.
DeleteAlma - good job researching the life of Ambrose Bierce! We'll talk about his fascinating life in class.
DeleteI do find it intriguing that Bierce chose to write from the perspective of a Confederate sympathizer, when he himself served with the Union. It would be interesting to know if this choice was inspired by his own military experience.
DeleteI think that Bierce wanted to make everyone aware of the reality of war. The pain, suffering, and anguish that so many people endured. I agree with Emilee that Bierce does seem to make the federalists look bad. I think that maybe Bierce strongly dislikes war.
ReplyDeleteI agree Larissa. He obviously was not a fan of war. He wanted people to understand the harsh realities.
DeleteBierce portrayed the soldiers as ruthless. They continued to fire shots at Farquhar even as he was in the water. After Bierce's own experiences, he probably wanted to portray what the war was like for both sides.
ReplyDeleteI saw online that Bierce fought for the Union.
I agree. I think Bierce was trying to showed that war was not as glorious as some might think. Instead, he was attempting to show that war was full of deception and death.
DeleteHe himself could have thought that war was glorious before joining the Union and he didn't want others to make the same mistake. Especially after his own experiences.
DeleteI believe this short story shows the dark side of war. Often wars are won through savagery, like the executioners, deception, like the spy, and the death of innocents, like Fahrquhar. This side of war is not often depicted in novels. War is made out to be the path to glory, but An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge shows the terrible truths of war. I believe this is the purpose of An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge, and the reason it was written in the first place.
ReplyDeleteI definately agree with you that An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge was written to show the truth and realities of war that aren't usually show or written about. The innocent deaths and spies.
DeleteI believe the author wanted us to see some dark truths about war. And to show how brutal the consequences are if you even slightly interfere with the union army.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Daniel that war is stereotyped as fame and glory when that's really not it at all. It is harsh and terrible.
ReplyDeleteBierce clearly wants the reader to understand the brutal and violent reality of war. The soldiers are painted as deceptive, cruel, and relentless.
ReplyDeleteI think Bierce had a very negative opinion of war, and the way it turns men against each other, tears apart families, and generally corrupts everything it touches. In times of war, brother is pitted against brother, innocents are placed in the line of fire, and destruction and mayhem become the new reality.
ReplyDeleteBierce himself fought in the Civil War, on the side of the Union, so he would have seen the effects of war on his fellow countrymen. Like Daniel said, I think a big part of why he wrote this short story is to show that war is not glory, honor, or fame. As a whole, war is horrifying and devastating, not beautiful or admirable.