What Just Happened? :: Essays Papers

What Just Happened?Literature is black text on vacuous paper, however it is not simply black and white, but rather complexly colorful. It serves as a medium for escape and adventure. Readers have the privilege of omniscience into the lives of characters who argon the antithesis of themselves, as well as characters whom the proofreader feels a deep continuative with. Because it is not black and white, there is no single correct version of a given work. A piece of literature lives a distinct liveness in the mind of each reader. This open individual comment is the critical method known as reader response. Reaction to the compendious story An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge, by Ambrose Bierce, is varied. Bierce takes on the role of God in the creation of the character, and his control of the ultimate outcome. Authors take a shit an alternative universe. They have control over what happens in that universe, and how it will preserve its inhabitants. They can manipulate i t as they please. They can also destroy, as Bierce did to Peyton Farquhar. No matter how lots the reader wanted Peyton to escape, it is Beirces final ruling of final stage that we must deal with. The surprise ending thrills some, while upsetting others. In this sense, the author has some control over the readers reaction, and their consciousness. The reading resembles the experience of life itself, in that there are many twists and turn within our lives much like those in the story, that we have no control over, and often the outcomes are ultimately upsetting. It is a deeply psychological work, revealing the mental struggles of the master(prenominal) character, Peyton Farquhar, as well as having an affect on the psychology of the reader. The reader becomes engulfed in Peytons escape, experiencing each obstacle and hardship with him, wishing him to safety. Bierce uses a in truth dreamlike structure to reveal Farquhars psychologically suppressed ambitions Obviously, he was from a structure background, born into an ordered world where formalities counted much among the gentry... Truly, Farquhar make up himself inhibited by social and historical strictures, and so longed for the release of his energies (Powers p.279) . This inward struggle is a very Freudian concept. Freud held that there is a ageless tension between man and his surroundings.