Reflection Blog - Pit and the Pendulum

"The Pit and the Pendulum" is a short story written by the infamous Edgar Allen Poe. His story strongly reflects the Romanticism time period and has been highly debated and analyzed since its publication in the mid-1800's. During the Dark Romanticism era, less hope was put into man and more praise was given to mythology and nature. Also, many characteristics of man in literature during this time period involved demonic and ghostly characteristics. Poe says, "I saw the lips of the black-robed judges. They appeared to me white -- whiter than the sheet upon which I trace these words -- and thin even to grotesqueness; thin with the intensity of their expression of firmness, of immovable resolution, of stern contempt of human torture," (Poe). In this quote, the narrator describes the man's imprisonment during the Spanish Inquisition. The "black-robed judges" symbolize somewhat of a demonic and evil being. These figures have the power to put the man to death or to save him and spare the prisoner his life. The Dark Romantics, like Mr. Poe himself, demonstrate how man can be crude and torturous toward fellow beings. This is different from the Romantic era because more hope and kindness is portrayed through man in this type of writing. Authors are not as harsh and instead decide to show the sensitive side of man instead of the raging angry side of man. Poe later describes the depths of the man's prison cell in very fine detail, also a characteristic of Romanticism. Poe uses a very effective image in the short story that realistically grabs readers attention. The description of Death hanging the pendulum (which later is the result of the narrator's death) represents our own lives. Death is the destination we all must meet. Some may fear death more than others, but as a whole, no one actually wants to die. It is a topic nobody tends to talk about at the dinner table, but we all know our fate will meet Death at some point in our lives. I think this image sets Poe's short story apart from many other works of literature of the time period because he so masterfully grasps a destination each and every one of us has to face one day. "Still, the prisoner's torment continues. The hot iron walls of his dungeon begin to close in, forcing him ever closer to the frightening pit" In this literary criticism, the author also hits the idea that Poe's character is awaiting his death. The symbolism of the walls caving in on the prisoner represents our number of years on this earth slowly declining each day. I think that Poe intends readers to think about this idea and just simply enjoy life. We all endure stress and drama, but do we take the time out of our day to smile and appreciate the fact we are still alive? I think that this short story is so masterfully created and stands for more than what is written in its context.

Poe, Edgar A. "The Pit and the Pendulum." Literature.org - The Online Literature Library. Web. 22 Jan. 2012.

Werlock, Abby H. P. "'The Pit and the Pendulum'." The Facts On File Companion to the American Short Story, Second Edition. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2009. Bloom's Literary Reference Online. Facts On File, Inc.