THE PIT AND THE PENDULUM

Summary:

Perhaps one of Poe's most popular works, 'The Pit and the Pendulum' takes place in a dungeon during the Spanish Inquisition. The hero, who is never named, is a man driven to the brink of insanity and death by the horrors of the autos-da-fé. After the vaguely described rush of his trial and sentencing, he finds himself in a large, irregularly shaped cell with stone floor and iron walls, which admits no light whatsoever. After searching the perimeter in vain, the hero narrowly escapes death by tripping short of the enormous pit that gapes in the center of the chamber. The hero swoons. He awakes to find himself bound beneath a razor sharp pendulum that descends ever so slowly directly above his heart. Driven nearly to madness, the hero uses his free hand, which is only unbound from the elbow downward, to wipe the juices and crumbs of what was to be his last meal on the single thin band ravelled around him which holds him in the path of the pendulum. The rats that cohabit the chamber attack this shroud, chewing through it, and the hero narrowly escapes the death designed for him by 'monkish ingenuity.' Immediately, the pendulum is withdrawn to the ceiling, and fires ignite behind the iron walls. These walls, now heated to a temperature unbearable to the human body, began to close in on the hero, driving toward the yawning precipice of the pit. The hero nearly loses his footing in his attempt to die in any way other than as prescribed by his tormentors, and is at the last minute rescued by the invading French forces of General Lasalle.

Importance of the Work:

Though not perhaps the best of Poe's short stories, it has achieved its own place as one of the most interesting and hair-raising works of American short fiction. Religious symbolism abounds, as the 'wild, sulphurous lustre' of the cell connotes a scene of hellfire and brimstone, and the hand of the French General assumes a likeness to the hand of God reaching down to save a soul. Another important aspect of the story is the comparison between two states of consciousness, the arabesque, that of the mind and spirit; and the grotesque, that of the body. Often, the story is described by a hero with only mental facilities, for through unconsciousness or bodily restrictions, physical exertions prove impossible. Much of the story is devoted to the conflict between the two, as the hero attempts to free his body of its impediments by means of his superb, albeit at times maddened, brain. The story shows that mankind is able through his intelligence, his strength of will, and his staunch, dogged opposition, to confound the goals of his persecutors, and eventually even triumph despite overwhelming odds.

Reviews and Critical Opinions of the Work During Poe's Lifetime:

Poe likely conceived the plot and particulars of the story after reading Charles Brockden Brown's Edgar Huntly, a story of a hero's falling in a pit and gradually losing his mind through thirst, darkness and paranoia, and also from Juan Antonio Llorente's Critical History of the Spanish Inquisition or Thomas Dick's Philosophy of Religion. As was to be expected by Poe's admitting to being influenced at all, he was accused shortly after his death of plagiarism. Later, in 1909, Woodberry called the work one of 'no striking originality.' Yet the story has survived, to enjoy such praise in recent years as Harry Levine's calling it 'a nightmarish, symbolic story about every person's worst nightmare and an allegory of the most basic human situation and dilemma,' and David Hirsch's stating 'the surface of Poe's world has broken and cracked, and man stands at the edge of the bottomless abyss.' Perhaps having more bearing in today's world as an exploration of a tortured mind and the limits of human fortitude, it is not surprising that the story received such harsh criticism in a time more concerned with superficiality than substance. Plagiarism or not, Poe has in this story plumbed the depths of the human soul.

EDGAR ALLAN POE

Edgar Allan Poe, son of Actress Eliza Poe and Actor David Poe Jr., born 19th of January 1809, was mostly known for his poems and short tales and his literary criticism. He has been given credit for inventing the detective story and his pshycological thrillers have been infuences for many writers worldwide.

Edgar and his brother and sister were orphaned before Edgar's third birthday and Edgar was taken in to the home of John and Fanny Allan in Richmond, Va. The Allans lived in England for five years (1815-1820) where Edgar also attended school. In 1826 he entered the University of Virginia. Although a good student he was forced to gambling since John Allan did not provide well enough. Allan refused to pay Edgar's debts and Edgar had to leave the University after only one year.

In 1827 Edgar published his first book, 'Tamerlane and other poems' anonymously under the signature 'A Bostonian'. The poems were heavily influenced from Byron and showed of a youthful attitude.

Later in 1827 Edgar enlisted in the Army under the name Edgar A Perry where his quarrels with John Allan continued. Edgar did well in the army but in 1829 he left and decided to apply for a cadetship at West Point.

Before he was able to enter West Point Edgar published a book entitled 'Al Aaraaf, Tamerlane, and minor poems', this time the book was published, not anonymously, but under the name Edgar A. Poe, where the middle initial acknowledged John Allan's name. Before Edgar left West Point he received financial aid from his fellow cadets to publish a third edition of the book. Edgar called it a second edition though and it was entitled 'Poems by Edgar A. Poe' in which his famous poems 'To Helen' (another version was published in ) and 'Israfel' appeared. These show of the musical effect that has come to characterize Edgar's poems.

Later Poe moved to Baltimore to live with his aunt, Maria Clemm, and his first cousin Virginia. In 1832 he won a $50 prize for his story 'MS. Found in a Bottle' in the Baltimore Saturday Visiter. In 1835 Poe brought his aunt and cousin to Richmond where he worked with Thomas Willis White at the Southern Litterary Messenger. He also married his cousin Virginia, only thirteen years old.

Most of Edgar's work with the Messenger were of a critical nature but he also published some literary work such as 'Berenice'. His work with the writing and the editorial departments of the Messenger increased the circulation of the magazine. But his drinking habits forced White to eventually let him go.

Edgar moved around to New York and Philadelphia, trying to establish a name in literary journalism but without any major success. His theories on musical poems and short prose narratives which were to aim at 'a certain unique or single effect' can be for example be seen in 'Ligeia'(1838) and THE FALL OF THE HOUSE OF USHER (1839) which would eventually become one of his most famous stories.

'The Murders in the Rue Morgue' (1841) is sometimes considered the first detective story. Examples of his use of a rythmic and flowing language are the poems 'The Raven' (1845) and 'The Bells' (1849). The Raven was a symbol of 'Mournful and never ending remembrance' which is not only a good description for 'The Raven' but could be applied to almost all of his work.

In January 1847 Virginia Died and Edgar took this very hard but he kept on writing until the day he died in Baltimore October 7, 1849.