Good question, Selah! Bierce fought on a certain side in the war. Do any of you think his ideas changed during the war? Was he still a supporter of one side or another? Or does he seem conflicted in his writing? You don't need to answer these questions, but it is something to think about :)
I read in one sight, before your question, that Bierce served on the Union side. I think that while the Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge tends to contradict Bierce's opinion, it makes him an even better writer. The (rare) times I write a story I usually write from my perspective. I think it takes a special person to be able to write something that conflicts with his belief. That being said, Bierce doesn't go into very much detail as to why exactly Peyton dislikes the Union, other than the fact that he owns slaves (which I guess is detail enough, but a little more explanation probably wouldn't have hurt).
Although the fact that Bierce was "Unionist" may be surprising, quite frankly I think almost everything I've learned about Bierce is surprising. My first opinion of the author, without any research being done, was that he was a she, (I mean the name Ambrose seems like it could be either a he or she) "she" was christian, never married (because no one was cool enough for her), never had any kids, lived her life trying to make the world a better place, and died a peaceful yet heroic death. Come to find out Ambrose is a he, he was definitely not christian, was married and was divorced, had two kids that died, lived kinda selfishly (in my opinion), and then just disappeared somewhere and was never heard from again! (Although some think he committed suicide.) So yeah, if he killed someone I wouldn't be surprised because he's such a weird person. EVEN HIS METHOD OF STORY TELLING IS SURPRISING!
I know now that he fought for the Union, but from this story, I would've thought he was a Confederate. This isn't the only time he did this, either. I just read another of his stories, Chickamauga. In this story, he clearly shows sympathy for the main character, the son of a planter (I would really recommend that you read that story, just have some tissues nearby). Going off of that story, I would also suggest that he was against war, and I think that there's some evidence of this in Owl Creek as well.
You guys all deserve applause!!! You are not only digging into the story but the person behind the story! I have lots to tell you in class!
Bethany - Chickamauga is gut wrenching. All of Bierce's stories are. And they all come with many surprises. He is a masterful writer. If any of you are intrigued by Owl Creek, I also recommend his other stories.
I can't wait to discuss the story in class. There are soooo many questions I want to be answered.
I've purposely not read any spark notes or summaries of the book so that I could write what I wanted without accidentally commiting plagerism. So I have no idea what this book is about other than the theories I have come too (which are most likely wrong)
Good question, Selah! Bierce fought on a certain side in the war. Do any of you think his ideas changed during the war? Was he still a supporter of one side or another? Or does he seem conflicted in his writing? You don't need to answer these questions, but it is something to think about :)
ReplyDeleteI read in one sight, before your question, that Bierce served on the Union side. I think that while the Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge tends to contradict Bierce's opinion, it makes him an even better writer. The (rare) times I write a story I usually write from my perspective. I think it takes a special person to be able to write something that conflicts with his belief. That being said, Bierce doesn't go into very much detail as to why exactly Peyton dislikes the Union, other than the fact that he owns slaves (which I guess is detail enough, but a little more explanation probably wouldn't have hurt).
ReplyDeleteAlthough the fact that Bierce was "Unionist" may be surprising, quite frankly I think almost everything I've learned about Bierce is surprising. My first opinion of the author, without any research being done, was that he was a she, (I mean the name Ambrose seems like it could be either a he or she) "she" was christian, never married (because no one was cool enough for her), never had any kids, lived her life trying to make the world a better place, and died a peaceful yet heroic death. Come to find out Ambrose is a he, he was definitely not christian, was married and was divorced, had two kids that died, lived kinda selfishly (in my opinion), and then just disappeared somewhere and was never heard from again! (Although some think he committed suicide.) So yeah, if he killed someone I wouldn't be surprised because he's such a weird person. EVEN HIS METHOD OF STORY TELLING IS SURPRISING!
Okay that's all I got :D
I wonder if he was mean since he had such a bad life....
DeleteMost likely. Both of his sons died, and one of them, people think, died from suicide. Tough times harden people
DeleteI thought he was with the Confederates because he owned slaves.
ReplyDeleteI honestly thought he was a confederate too Nolan. Reason being the book said he was a successful slave owner...
ReplyDeleteWell the story said Peyton was a slave owner, but it never said anything about Bierce...
DeleteBierce did serve on the Union side, although his reading suggests that he was on the Confederate side.
ReplyDeleteI know now that he fought for the Union, but from this story, I would've thought he was a Confederate. This isn't the only time he did this, either. I just read another of his stories, Chickamauga. In this story, he clearly shows sympathy for the main character, the son of a planter (I would really recommend that you read that story, just have some tissues nearby). Going off of that story, I would also suggest that he was against war, and I think that there's some evidence of this in Owl Creek as well.
ReplyDeleteYou guys all deserve applause!!! You are not only digging into the story but the person behind the story! I have lots to tell you in class!
ReplyDeleteBethany - Chickamauga is gut wrenching. All of Bierce's stories are. And they all come with many surprises. He is a masterful writer. If any of you are intrigued by Owl Creek, I also recommend his other stories.
I can't wait to discuss the story in class. There are soooo many questions I want to be answered.
ReplyDeleteI've purposely not read any spark notes or summaries of the book so that I could write what I wanted without accidentally commiting plagerism. So I have no idea what this book is about other than the theories I have come too (which are most likely wrong)