Comments by
Rebecca Holmes
Why does Farquhar have that silly music-playing watch in the film? It must have been trendy at the time, or a gift, or something. It just seems like a strange thing for a southern gentleman to have.
In the text of the story, Bierce just describes the situation and lets the reader deduce that Farquhar is about to be hanged. (Starting with “A man stood upon a railroad bridge in northern Alabama …” and “The man’s hands were behind his back …”)
The film can’t really achieve the same effect, because I think its clear that Farquhar is going to be hanged as soon as the shot shows him to us.
The bird calls in the beginning of the film are interesting–what kind of bird is it? An owl, maybe?
I find the long shot of the spider very creepy–perhaps the world, even for Farquhar who thinks he has miraculously cheated death, isn’t all beautiful sunshine. (Or maybe I just find spiders creepy.)
The creaking sound of the ropes binding Farquhar’s hands before he falls from the bridge is very creepy. Unlike the ticking watch, which seems to be something only Farquhar can hear, the creaking ropes must have been heard by the Union men as well–I wonder how it made them feel.
I think Farquhar is also so eager for glory and to help the South’s cause that he isn’t very attuned to the situation. The deceit goes right by him.
I agree, it is interesting that here Farquhar is “her husband”. I think it also emphasizes that in this part of his life, he is in the role of husband and gentleman.
Why is this paragraph the only mention of Farquhar’s children? Perhaps he might have met them after seeing his wife, if he had had more time.
“He had no wish to perfect his escape–he was content to remain in that enchanting spot until retaken.”
This, of course, is what Farquhar is actually doing–just falling, idling, waiting to reach the end of the rope and die.
I love the way Farquhar doesn’t recognize the constellations, and also the alliteration of “shone great golden stars”. It adds to the dreamlike quality of this section… most stars in the sky look white, not golden.
Roseate means “having a dusty purplish pink color”. What a great word, and it contributes to the vividness of Farquhar’s imagination.
I agree that an important question about this clip is “why does Farquhar trip?”
I think it’s most likely there to add an element of realism to his fantasy. He has imagined his escape in such detail that it includes an accidental trip over a root in the woods.
In this scene the drums stop. I think this could be encouraging the viewer to believe that Farquhar is safe at home and has escaped death–which is of course not true. It’s important for Farquhar’s death to be a shock, and this scene works hard to accomplish that.
At Corinth in October of 1862, Union forces defeated a confederate army. The Confederacy suffered large losses and there was widespread outcry in the South regarding the mounting casualties of the war.
I agree that the phrase “student of hanging” foreshadows what is to come. However, Farquhar seems to be suggesting that someone who knows about hanging and the rules of espionage might be able to escape death.
Although Farquhar seems to wish he were a solider and accepts the lawless nature of war–”all’s fair”–he is still unsuspecting of the Federal scout. I think this shows that he is a gentleman who would never make a good soldier, and he is tricked by someone who is far more calculating and far less contemplative. Although Farquhar is a slave owner and on the “wrong side” of the war, this is very sad.
The proverb “all’s fair in love and war” has been attributed to John Lyly’s “Euphues” (16th century).
The phrase is frequently used to justify cheating, or when two people are competing for the love of a third.
The word “deference” is also a legal term which refers to how much respect a court has for the legitimacy or authority of a government’s actions. Showing less deference might indicate that the court believes a government is illegitimate or acted beyond its power. (Clearly the soldiers here have no such concerns.)
The phrase “trust of a knife” is confusing… I can’t find any references to what “trust” means in terms of knives. I assume it refers to the blade?
I think the loud ticking of his watch is foreshadowing how much time is about slow down–enough that he will be able to live out his escape in the seconds before he reaches the end of the rope.
“unsteadfast footing”:
This phrase is from Shakespeare’s Henry IV (part I), Act I, scene iii:
Worcester: Peace, cousin, say no more.
And now I will unclasp a secret book,
And to your quick-conceiving discontents
I’ll read you matter deep and dangerous,
As full of peril and adventurous spirit
As to o’erwalk a curren roaring loud
On the unsteadfast footing of a spear.
Worcester is convincing Hotspur to join the rebellion against King Henry IV. Hotspur will be betrayed by men more calculating and less romantic than he.
A planter is someone who owns a plantation. (Not to be confused with a farmer, who actually plants crops.)
“Parade rest” is a military parade command which allows the addressed soldiers to relax somewhat, with feet shoulder-width apart. No movement is allowed. The military parade dates back to ancient Rome, when the formation of large armies required soldiers to fight as units rather than as individuals. Organized fighting was considered more civilized than “melee” combat.