OPPapers.com

English Literature

The deaths in each of these stories are quite similar in certain ways, but also different. In "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" the death was a penalty for a crime that had been committed. What we see in the story is a last memory or dream, before the actual death occurs. At the time we don't know this, but could probably guess after a few minutes into the story. When the board is removed the hanged man falls into the river and there is too much slack in the noose. He frees himself under the water, then surfaces and begins to swim. The army begins to shoot at him and chase him, but he escapes miraculously, with no fatal wounds. He then realizes he is free and finds his way home to his wife or girlfriend. Then at that exact moment, we realize he is dreaming or thinking and he is hanged abruptly so. Death in this story is so long as far as time goes. It seems to last forever, when you take into account of his thoughts, but this was only in his mind. In reality it was not that long at all, only a brief moment in time before he was actually hanged. In the story of "Hedda Gabler" death was almost instantaneous for Hedda. In both stories, death came at the very end of the story for each of the characters. However, Hedda's death was not a punishment for some crime she had committed. Hedda chose to commit suicide on her own accord. In this way, Hedda's death was a form of escape from a life that she was not brave enough to change. She was unhappy with her marriage and her life in general, but she was not willing to do anything about it. Time is rather short in the "Hedda Gabler" story, it only lasts for a matter of hours, but yet it seems longer. But the other story only truly lasts for a few minutes, but seems to last much longer. Death is portrayed as the final end for each of the characters. However, one is chosen and the other is not. The death of the man seems peaceful, but Hedda dies angrily. Needless to say that each story portrays death as...

Please login to view the full essay...