Pit and the Pendulum Essay

Poe uses a common element in each of his stories that make them unlike any other- fear. In Edgar Allen Poe's "The Pit and the Pendulum," Poe creates a sense of fear in the readers by expressing the narrator's own fear of death. He uses symbolism to represent the judges as dark, intimidating figures, giving both the narrator and the readers a fear of judgment, and uses the pit and the pendulum to create a feeling of suspense and fear in both the readers and the narrator.

"The Pit and the Pendulum" begins with the introduction of an unspecified number of "black-robed judges (line 10)". The narrator gives very little detail about the appearances of the black-robed judges; however, describes his fear for them. The judges are dressed in black, a color usually associated with negativity or death. The color black strikes suspicion or fear into almost everyone. For example, if one was walking down the street and saw a black figure, they would most likely be fearful; rather than if they saw a white figure, they would be more hopeful and curious. The narrator fears his judgment because he already knows the outcome will be "the dread sentence of death (line 3)".He watches in horror as the dark figures mouth his "decrees of Fate (lines 13-14)"; his fate being an agonizing death. It is in human nature to dislike being judged. However, when Poe puts the narrator in a situation where he is being judged for his life, he dreads being judged. This makes readers think how fearful they would be in a situation judging their very lives, and therefore creating a sense of horror.

Poe uses both the pit and the pendulum to help add to the elements of horror in the story. The narrator first encounters the pit in the story as he unsuspectingly tries to navigate his way across his cell. Prior to the discovery of the pit, both the narrator and the readers are nervous and fearful of what may be in the dark, tremendous vault. He begins to make his way around the vault as the "intensity of the darkness (page 2)" oppresses him. Suddenly, both the narrator and the readers are shocked when he trips over a torn hem of his robe and falls, partially landing on solid ground. Although his chin hits solid ground, his lips and upper portion of his head "although seemingly at less elevation than the chin, touched nothing". Poe uses the darkness and the narrator's unknowingness of the pit to create a great suspense and anxiety in his readers. After the pit fails, however, the narrator is introduced by his anonymous torturers to the pendulum. Upon noticing the pendulum, the narrator watches it "somewhat in fear, but more in wonder (page 5)". However, his fear quickly rises when he realizes the swinging pendulum is slowly descending towards him. The pendulum is almost like a time bomb- it slowly creeps down to an agonizing death. Both the narrator and the readers face immense fear,