Both Julian and Peyton Furquher are imaginative dreamers whose imaginations run wild. Peyton FurquherÆs unfettered imagination results in his viewing himself as a soldier, which ultimately ends in his execution by hanging for his efforts to destroy the Owl Creek Bridge. JulianÆs resentment toward and dislike of his mother causes him to fantasize about the ways in which she might be pushed toward a premature death. Ultimately, JulianÆs mother has a heart attack. Therefore, we see that the result of unfettered imagination unchecked by reality is often tragedy.
In his mind, Peyton Furquher considers himself ôa soldier at heartö (Bierce, 2002, p. 2). This leads him to attempt to destroy Owl Creek Bridge. He is caught and sentenced to execution by hanging. Even when he is dying, FurquherÆs imagination continues to run wild, as he considers himself breaking free of his noose, dodging bullets, and eventually arriving home safe and sound to his loved ones before he dies.
Julian fantasizes all the time. His imagination is continually at work, most of the time preoccupied with thoughts of his disdain for his mother and her way of thinking and life. He often fantasizes of hastening her demise by forcing her to interact with Blacks, ôHe imagined his mother lying desperately ill and his being able to secure only a Negro doctor for herö (OÆConnor, 1964, p. 8). As such, when JulianÆs mother actually does suffer what appears to be a heart attack, he is in shock and will eventually face darkness and guilt.
In sum, it appears that both OÆConnor and Bierce argue that the result of an unfettered imagination unchecked by reality is tragic more often than not. This is their way of suggesting one must use ration and logic over emotions and imagination to survive in the real world.
Bierce, A. (2002). An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge, 1-6.
OÆConnor, F. (1964). Everything That Rises Must Converge, 1
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