"The Pit and the Pendulum" by Edgar Allan Poe: A Story of Pychological realism

Introduction

"Poe is not merely a simple writer, one who only has the power to create the delicious but harmless sense of momentary horror. He is a writer who, both because of his skill as a creator of highly polished narratives and his genius at understanding some of the most powerful and deep-seated fears and anxieties of human beings, can, and should be, studied more carefully."- Charles E. May

In comply to Charles's observation, Edgar Allan Poe's short story, "The Pit and the Pendulum," is a chilling tale that leads into the depths of psychological realism. Set during the Spanish Inquisition, the narrative follows an unnamed protagonist who faces torture and imminent death. Throughout the story, Poe masterfully explores the human mind's intricacies under extreme circumstances, capturing the protagonist's emotions, fears, and survival instincts.

The Setting of Terror

Edgar Allan Poe

In the dark and oppressive dungeons of the Spanish Inquisition, the protagonist finds himself trapped, unable to comprehend his fate. The story's setting creates an atmosphere of terror, further accentuated by the flickering light of a torch, the dampness of the walls, and the faint echoes of sinister laughter from unseen tormentors.  Infact, the story begins with this agonized words of the protaginist: "I was sick, sick unto death with that long agony; and when they at length unbound me, and I was permitted to sit, I felt that my senses were leaving me." He farther adds, "The blackness of eternal night encompassed me. I struggled for breath amidst the maddening darkness."

As we proceed farther, the repetition of the word 'down' at the beginning of each paragraph increase the dramatic tension. The narrator's state of mind change as the pendulum descends: "Down—steadily down it crept. I took a frenzied pleasure in contrasting its downward with its lateral velocity. To the right, to the left—far and wide— with the shriek of a damned spirit; to my heart with the stealthy pace of the tiger!" It highlights the overwhelming sense of terror and despair the protagonist experiences while being confined in the dark and torturous setting of the pit and the pendulum. Edgar Allan Poe's masterful use of language effectively evokes a chilling atmosphere throughout the story.

Confronting Mortal Fear

As the protagonist wakes up in his dimly lit cell, he struggles to make sense of his surroundings. The sensation of being confined and cut off from the outside world intensifies his fear, making him question his sanity. Poe skillfully portrays the protagonist's anxiety and panic, making readers empathize with his dire situation. His pathetic monologues read:

"In the deepest slumber--no! In delirium--no! In a swoon--no! In death--no! even in the grave all is not lost. Else there is no immortality for man. Arousing from the most profound of slumbers, we break the gossamer web of some dream."  

"Yet the sound increased--and what could I do? It was a low, dull, quick sound--much such a sound as a watch makes when enveloped in cotton. I gasped for breath--and yet the officers heard it not."  

"There was a discordant hum of human voices! There was a loud blast as of many trumpets! There was a harsh grating as of a thousand thunders! The fiery walls rushed back! An outstretched arm caught my own as I fell, fainting, into the abyss."  

The Pendulum of Death

One of the most memorable and horrifying elements of the story is the pendulum of death. A menacing blade swings ever closer to the protagonist's body as he lies helplessly bound on the cold stone floor. With each swing, the sense of impending doom intensifies, and the protagonist's mind races to find a way to escape the deadly pendulum's reach. The monoloques of the prisoner is noteworty to be quoted here:

"Upward and onward! The mere fantastic tumult, the sound of many waters, and the alternate swoop and precipitous ascent of the huge walls of the watery gulf, excited me to uncontrollable terror." 

"My outstretched hands at length encountered some solid obstruction. It was the wall, the boundary of the prison." 

"Suddenly there shot along the path a wild light, and I turned to see whence a gleam so unusual could have issued; for the vast house and its shadows were alone behind me." 

The Power of the Mind

As the protagonist faces unimaginable horrors, his mind becomes his greatest ally and enemy. Poe describes the power of the human psyche under extreme duress, showcasing the protagonist's ability to reason and strategize even in the face of death. However, as fear takes hold, the mind also becomes a source of torment, conjuring nightmarish visions that blur the line between reality and delusion.

The protagonist's mind is so overwhelmed by fear and terror that he begins to hallucinate and imagine horrors around him, showcasing the power of the mind to influence one's perception of reality: "I busied myself among the decaying bones and emitted a loud, wild, and long-continued scream." Again, the protagonist's mind refuses to give in completely to unconsciousness, demonstrating its ability to hold on to awareness even in the face of extreme physical and psychological torment: "I had swooned; but still will not say that all of consciousness was lost. What of it there remained I will not attempt to define, or even to describe." The power of the mind to drive the will to survive is evident when he says, "I wrestled fiercely, furiously, in the energy of despair", as the protagonist fights against the pendulum despite seemingly insurmountable odds, showing the strength and determination that the mind can muster in dire situations.

Survival Instincts

The story explores the protagonist's primal instincts for survival. Faced with the pendulum's deadly descent, he struggles to break free from his restraints, using every ounce of strength and willpower. The will to survive becomes a driving force, pushing the protagonist to endure unimaginable pain and suffering.

Edgar Allan Poe portrays the survival instinct of the narrator's fellow prisoner, who exhibits fearlessness even in the face of imminent danger. Whereas, the narrator reflects on his own survival instincts, choosing the fear of a dreadful death over accepting defeat: "The instinct of self-preservation is stronger than any other feeling, and the thought of death terrified me less than the idea of perishing by so horrible a fate." farther, the narrator's intuition and survival instincts lead him to refrain from altering the behavior of his captors, knowing that any deviation from their plans could prove deadly.

The Revelation

Just as the protagonist nears his breaking point, he discovers an escape route from the pit that would have been his grave. This revelation adds an element of hope, showcasing the human spirit's resilience even in the darkest moments.

 Here is the narrator's conviction that he is not insane despite the horrifying visions and experiences he undergoes. It ties into the theme of revelation as the narrator begins to question the nature of reality and seeks the truth beyond his immediate senses: "Yet, mad am I not - and very surely do I not dream." Now, there is a revelation which is a pivotal moment in the story, where the narrator's discovery of the pit leads to his imminent doom. The inquisitors' awareness of his knowledge of the pit ultimately contributes to his impending death: "My cognisance of the pit had become known to the inquisitorial agents." 

The pendulum symbolizes the approaching doom, and the narrator's fascination with it reveals the human tendency to confront and examine danger even in the face of death. "Down - steadily down it crept. I took a frenzied pleasure in contrasting its downward with its lateral velocity." describes the pendulum's descent towards the narrator, as he revels in the revelation of its relentless and calculated movement. 

Conclusion

Edgar Allan Poe's "The Pit and the Pendulum" is a haunting and psychologically intense tale that broods over the human mind's depths under extreme circumstances. Through skillful narration and vivid imagery, Poe captures the protagonist's terror, resilience, and will to survive. This short story continues to enthrall readers with its exploration of psychological realism, leaving a lasting impression on those who dare to venture into its chilling world.

Ardhendu De

References

Edgar Allan Poe reader : Poe, Edgar Allan, 1809-1849 : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive. (n.d.). Internet Archive. https://archive.org/details/edgarallanpoerea0000unse_d5y1

Beacham’s Guide to Literature for Young Adults, Charles E. May, California State University, Long Beach

May, Charles E. Edgar Allan Poe: A Study of the Short Fiction. Boston: Twayne, 1991.