An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge
             Ambrose Bierce's short story, "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge," takes place during the Civil War near Corinth, Alabama. The protagonist of the story, Peyton Farquhar, is a slave owner and a politician. In the story, Peyton is portrayed as a loving family man with a strong sense of awareness and an equally strong dedication to the South, and the southern cause in the war. Though Peyton has many different characteristics, the three traits mentioned are probably his strongest and have the most to do with the outcome of the story.
             Peyton is portrayed as a loving family man. Peyton has a wife and at least two children of his own. He comes from "an old and highly respected Alabama family"(259). His love for his family, although not directly stated, is apparent in Peyton's final thoughts before being hanged. While Peyton is only moments away from death, he closes "his eyes in order to fix his last thoughts upon his wife and children"(258). He yearns to return home to his family and is thankful that his "wife and little ones are still beyond the invader's farthest advance"(259). This statement shows how Peyton cares for his family's safety. As Peyton falls between the crossties and is having the life choked out of him, he slips into a dream in which he escapes from the hands of his enemy and returns home. His final vision in his dream, before total darkness, is when he makes it to his plantation. He walks through the gate and he sees his wife: "she stands waiting, with a smile of ineffable joy, an attitude of matchless grace and dignity " (263). I think Peyton's last thought of his beautiful wife shows how much he cares for and loves her.
             Another one of Peyton's character traits that is shown in the story is his level of awareness of his surroundings. As he stands on the bridge and prepares for ...