“The Pit and the Pendulum” by Edgar Allan Poe: A Critical Review

Introduction: “The Pit and the Pendulum” by Edgar Allan Poe

“The Pit and the Pendulum” by Edgar Allan Poe, first published in 1842, is set during the Spanish Inquisition and follows an unnamed narrator sentenced to death and imprisoned in a dark dungeon. The story is known for its suspenseful and terrifying atmosphere as well as its exploration of themes such as human cruelty, psychological terror, and the struggle for survival. Through the use of imagery and sensory details, Poe creates a sense of dread and desperation that heightens the reader’s emotional response to the story’s terrifying events. “The Pit and the Pendulum” is considered a classic of horror and gothic literature and has had a significant influence on the development of the horror genre in popular culture.

Main Events in “The Pit and the Pendulum” by Edgar Allan Poe

1. Inquisition Trial and Sentencing: The unnamed narrator, weakened by an unspecified illness, is brought before a tribunal of the Spanish Inquisition. He observes “seven tall white candles” burning down and sees his judges “indistinctly as dreams” as he receives a harsh death sentence (Poe).
2. Loss of Consciousness: Overwhelmed by terror and despair, the narrator faints and falls “insensible” into darkness (Poe). He regains consciousness on the ground in an unknown location.
3. Imprisonment in Darkness: Regaining awareness, the narrator finds himself in a pitch-black cell. He is consumed by terror at the thought of hidden dangers, feeling “sick and nauseous… as if the demons of the grave had taken ghastly possession” of his soul (Poe).
4. Exploration and Discovery of the Pit: Attempting to measure his cell, the narrator stumbles towards its center, discovering a deep pit emitting a “sulfurous stench” (Poe). He narrowly avoids plunging into the terrifying abyss.
5. Drugged Sustenance: After nearly falling into the pit, the narrator discovers food and water left for him. Unbeknownst to him, the food is drugged and upon awakening he finds himself in heightened awareness and horror.
6. Confrontation with the Pendulum: Awaking in “utter blackness”, the narrator discovers he is bound to a wooden frame, helpless beneath a monstrous pendulum (Poe). The blade slowly descends, gleaming “like a scintillating star” as it swings closer, intending to bisect his body (Poe).
7. Calculated Escape from the Pendulum: In a desperate act of self-preservation, the narrator smears the remnants of his meat on his bindings. Rats, attracted by the scent, gnaw through the cords, allowing him to narrowly escape just before the pendulum reaches his heart.
8. The Glowing, Closing Walls: Freed from the pendulum, the narrator faces a new horror. The iron walls of the cell begin to glow red-hot and slowly close inwards, forcing him towards the pit.
9. Momentary Sense of Doom: Trapped with seemingly no escape, the narrator feels the “eagerness of the fiery embrace” as he’s forced to the edge of the pit (Poe). He is about to surrender himself to his fate.
10. French Army Intervention: Just as all hope is lost, the narrator hears a “sullen and continuous sound” (Poe). General Lasalle and the French army storm the Inquisition’s stronghold, interrupting the torturous ritual and rescuing him from certain doom.

Literary Devices in “The Pit and the Pendulum” by Edgar Allan Poe

Literary Device	Description
Alliteration	The repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words to create aural emphasis and a sense of foreboding.
Anadiplosis	The repetition of the last word of a clause or sentence at the start of the next, contributing to a feeling of entrapment and relentless dread.
Diction	Poe’s careful word choice, including words like “hideous,” “inconceivable,” and “agonized,” to create a specific mood and tone.
Foreshadowing	Early hints at the horrors that will unfold, like the inquisitor’s faces appearing “whiter than the sheet upon which I trace these words” (Poe).
Hyperbole	Exaggeration for emphasis and dramatic effect, like the narrator’s description of his suffering reaching “the intensity of intolerable horror” (Poe).
Imagery	Vivid use of sensory details to create an atmosphere of horror and suspense. Examples include the “sulfurous stench” of the pit, the gleaming pendulum, the “figures of fiends in aspects of menace” painted on the heated walls (Poe).
Interior Monologue	Expressing the narrator’s thoughts and feelings directly, allowing the reader to experience his terror and internal struggle.
Irony	Contradiction between what is expected and what actually occurs, notably at the conclusion where the narrator’s rescuers symbolize both salvation and the arrival of a new oppressive force.
Metaphor	Direct comparison between two unlike things, such as comparing the pendulum’s descent to a “hissing scythe” (Poe).
Pathos	Appeal to the reader’s emotions, evoking pity, horror, and empathy for the narrator’s plight.
Personification	Endowing inanimate objects or abstract concepts with human qualities. Examples include “the demons of the grave” and the pendulum’s “pitiless descent” (Poe).
Repetition	The repeated use of words and phrases for emphasis and to intensify emotional impact.
Sensory Details	Emphasis on sight, sound, smell, touch, and taste to intensify the reader’s experience and heighten tension.
Simile	Comparison using ‘like’ or ‘as’, like the cell walls appearing “like a hot furnace” (Poe).
Symbolism: The Pit	Represents the depths of despair, fear of the unknown, and the inevitability of death.
Symbolism: The Pendulum	Symbolizes the relentless passage of time and the ever-present threat of mortality.
Symbolism: The Glowing Walls	Symbolize the encroaching power of the Inquisition and the fiery torments of hell.
Allegory	The story as a whole can be seen as an allegory for the dangers of religious persecution and the human struggle against oppression.
Mood	The overall mood of the story is one of intense horror, fear, and despair.
Tone	The tone shifts throughout the story, ranging from terror and desperation to moments of fleeting hope and defiance.

Characterization in “The Pit and the Pendulum” by Edgar Allan Poe

Major Character: The Narrator

The narrator is the sole protagonist of the story, and the audience experiences the entire ordeal through his eyes. Poe does not provide a name or any specific background details, making the narrator a more universal figure. This enhances the potential for readers to imagine themselves in his terrifying situation. Here’s what we do know:

• Extreme Psychological Distress: The narrator is plagued by profound fear, despair, and a fluctuating sense of hope throughout the story. Poe illustrates this with phrases like, “Sick – sick unto death with that long agony” and moments of manic resilience where the narrator devises plans to escape the tortures (Poe).
• Resourcefulness and Intelligence: Despite being physically helpless, the narrator possesses a sharp mind. He carefully observes his surroundings, methodically explores the cell, and concocts a clever escape from the pendulum.
• Heightened Perception: Likely a mixed effect of his imprisonment, the drugging, and psychological stress, the narrator experiences an abnormal sensory awareness. He describes smells and sounds in minute detail. Poe uses this as a tool to convey a more visceral experience of his terror.
• Flawed and Unreliable: The narrator’s narration is clouded by his terror and instability. He faints repeatedly and it’s possible his sensory experiences are exaggerated or hallucinated due to his state.

Minor Characters

• The Judges of the Inquisition: Menacing, spectral figures representing the oppressive force condemning the narrator. They are described as wearing black robes, with faces initially “whiter than the sheet” upon which the narrator writes, later appearing “of the character of demons” (Poe).
• General Lasalle: The leader of the French army that disrupts the Inquisition. While Lasalle is ultimately the narrator’s savior, there is still the implication that he represents a new form of oppression. This hints at the futility of escape in the context of historical power struggles.

Characterization Techniques

Poe primarily uses these techniques to develop his characters in “The Pit in the Pendulum”:

• First-person Narration: The story is entirely from the narrator’s perspective, immersing the reader in his thoughts, feelings, and escalating fear.
• Dialogue: Very minimal dialogue is present, but the inquisitors’ sentencing and the brief interaction with General Lasalle add a contrasting sense of reality to the narrator’s otherwise solitary experience.
• Internal Monologue: Poe utilizes this heavily, allowing us access to the narrator’s complex and sometimes contradictory emotions of surrender and desperate resistance.
• Actions and Reactions: The narrator’s behavior in the face of horrific circumstances reveals his strength, terror, and occasional cunning.

Note on Limitations: “The Pit and the Pendulum” is a classic example of Poe’s focus on creating a singular psychological effect in his stories. Therefore, characterization isn’t as deep as it might be in a complex novel. However, the characters are sufficient to propel the narrative and its exploration of terror.

Major Themes in “The Pit and the Pendulum” by Edgar Allan Poe

1. The Inevitability of Death and the Fear of the Unknown

• The Pit: The pit represents the ever-present possibility of death and the terrifying concept of the unknowable abyss. Its presence torments the narrator, reminding him of his mortality.
• The Pendulum: The pendulum’s slow descent becomes a relentless symbol of time running out. It embodies both the inevitability of death and its agonizingly slow approach.
• Quotation: “Down – steadily down it crept… A slight oscillation to and fro would bring it against them [my limbs]… And still it came down steadily down…” (Poe) This illustrates the inescapable nature of death as represented by the pendulum.

2. The Horrors of Psychological Torture

• Sensory Manipulation: The Inquisitors meticulously design tortures focused on psychological terror rather than solely physical pain. Examples include the complete darkness, the discovery of the pit, and the agonizing sounds of the pendulum.
• Calculated Cruelty The tortures are devised to exploit the victim’s fear, uncertainty, and imagination in order to maximize suffering. Even moments of ‘salvation’ are revealed to be further calculated steps in the ordeal.
• Quotation: “I saw clearly the doom which had been prepared for me, and congratulated myself upon the timely accident that had stopped my falling into the pit” (Poe). The narrator’s initial relief upon escaping one horror reveals a complex psychological trap.

3. The Struggle Between Hope and Despair

• Fluctuating Emotions: The narrator cycles through periods of despair, where he welcomes death, and moments of frenzied hope and resistance, where his survival instinct drives his attempts to escape.
• Momentary Respites: Even as his situation worsens, the narrator clings to glimmers of hope – escaping the pendulum, finding sustenance – but these are cruelly and repeatedly undermined.
• Quotation: “…the intensity of my despair” reveals the depth of the narrator’s suffering, contrasted against moments of “mad rushing activity” where he schemes to survive (Poe).

4. The Oppression of Religious and Political Power

• The Spanish Inquisition: The historical setting and direct references to the Inquisition frame the story as a critique of abuses of power by oppressive institutions.
• Dehumanization of the Victim: The narrator is denied his name and history, reduced to a mere object to be tortured. This reflects the way oppressive systems strip individuals of personhood for control.
• Ambiguous Ending: While the narrator is physically saved, the arrival of General Lasalle and the French Army implies an exchange of one oppressive power for another. This cyclical nature of power systems is a subtle yet significant theme.

Writing Style in “The Pit and the Pendulum” by Edgar Allan Poe

·  Sensory Imagery: Poe relies heavily on vivid descriptions of sight, sound, smell, touch, and even taste to immerse the reader in the narrator’s experience.

• Sight: “…its terrific scimitar-like edge” (Pendulum)
• Smell: “…a strong sulphurous odor pervaded the dungeon” (The pit)
• Sound: “…there came to my ears a low, dull, quick sound- such as a watch makes when enveloped in cotton” (the beating of his heart).

·  First-person Narration: The story is told entirely from the narrator’s perspective, creating a sense of immediacy and allowing direct access to his terror and internal struggle.

·  Interior Monologue: Poe uses stream-of-consciousness style passages to convey the narrator’s disjointed thoughts and fluctuating emotional states.

• “There reached my nostrils the distinct odor of mould, and presently I was enabled to see the slightest and faintest traces of the fungus…” (Poe).

·  Heightened Language and Diction: Poe’s word choice is intentionally evocative and often archaic, with words like “hideous,” “phantasms,” and “agonized” contributing to a sense of gothic horror.

·  Sentence Structure: Poe varies between short, fragmented sentences for moments of crisis and longer, more elaborate sentences for reflection or description.

• Fragment: “Hope! – feeble flickering hope!” (Poe).
• Elaborate: “There was something at once ludicrous and terrible in the figure which I had conjured up to my imagination, and which still sat in vivid colors upon my mental eye” (Poe).

·  Symbolism: Key elements like the pit, the pendulum, and the glowing walls function as potent symbols of death, torture, and oppression.

·  Foreshadowing: Poe uses subtle hints and clues to build suspense and foreshadow the horrors to come, increasing the psychological terror for the reader.

Literary Theories and Interpretation of “The Pit and the Pendulum” by Edgar Allan Poe

Psychological Criticism

•  Focus: Explores the psychological states of the characters, particularly the narrator’s fear, despair, and struggle for survival.
• Key Questions:
  • How do the tortures manipulate the narrator’s senses and perception of reality?
  • How does the story examine the extremes of human emotion under duress?
  • Is the narrator ultimately a reliable or unreliable source of information, given his trauma?
• Psychoanalytic Criticism (Freudian)
  • Focus: Analyzes symbols and unconscious meanings within the text. Looks for expressions of repressed desires or fears.
  • Key Points:
    • The Pit: Could represent the subconscious, repression, or the fear of death.
    • The Pendulum: Could represent the conflict between the id (primitive drives) and the superego (conscience and societal constraints).
    • The Inquisition: Could embody a father figure and the narrator’s anxieties about punishment and authority.
• Gothic Literature
  • Focus: Examines how the story utilizes typical gothic elements like darkness, confinement, threats to sanity, and a sense of the supernatural.
  • Key Points:
    • The Inquisition setting and emphasis on psychological torment contribute to a gothic atmosphere.
    • Motifs of decay (the dungeon) and spectral figures (the judges) are classic gothic tropes.
    • While not overtly supernatural, the story hinges on the fear of the unknown and heightened sensory experience, key aspects of the gothic tradition .
• Historical/New Historicist Criticism
  • Focus: Examines the relationship between the text and its historical context, specifically exploring how the Spanish Inquisition shapes the themes and portrayal of power.
  • Key Points
    • Consideration of the Inquisition’s real historical practices and their potential influence on Poe’s fictionalization of torture.
    • Analysis of power structures within the story; not just the inquisitors’ power over the victim, but the implied critique of political power in the ending.
• Marxist Criticism
  • Focus: Analyzes the story through the lens of class struggle and oppression. Looks at how systems of power are maintained and challenged.
  • Key Points:
    • The victim’s powerlessness and dehumanization at the hands of the Inquisition could be interpreted as a representation of class conflict.
    • The ending, where one oppressive power replaces another, can be seen as a commentary on the futile cycles of power struggles.

Questions and Thesis Statements about “The Pit and the Pendulum” by Edgar Allan Poe

• How does Edgar Allan Poe use symbolism to convey the central themes of fear and oppression in “The Pit and the Pendulum”?
• Thesis statement: In “The Pit and the Pendulum,” Edgar Allan Poe uses symbolism, such as the pit and the pendulum, to explore the themes of fear and oppression, highlighting the power dynamics between the Spanish Inquisitors and their victims.
• How does Poe use imagery and suspense to create a sense of terror in “The Pit and the Pendulum”?
• Thesis statement: Edgar Allan Poe’s use of vivid imagery and suspenseful pacing in “The Pit and the Pendulum” creates a chilling atmosphere that immerses the reader in the narrator’s experience, making them feel as though they too are facing the horrors of the Spanish Inquisition.
• How does the narrator’s use of reason and logic help him survive in “The Pit and the Pendulum”?
• Thesis statement: In “The Pit and the Pendulum,” the narrator’s use of reason and logic allows him to overcome his fear and escape the pit, highlighting the power of the human mind in the face of adversity.
• What is the significance of the French General in “The Pit and the Pendulum”?
• Thesis statement: The French General in “The Pit and the Pendulum” represents a symbol of hope and liberation, standing in contrast to the oppressive Inquisitors and the narrator’s fear and despair.
• How does “The Pit and the Pendulum” fit into the larger context of Gothic Literature?
• Thesis statement: “The Pit and the Pendulum” is a quintessential example of Gothic Literature, characterized by its dark themes, supernatural elements, and eerie atmosphere, contributing to the larger genre of horror fiction.
• What does “The Pit and the Pendulum” say about the relationship between power and fear?
• Thesis statement: “The Pit and the Pendulum” explores the relationship between power and fear, showing how those in positions of authority can use fear as a tool to maintain their power, while also highlighting the resilience and strength of the human spirit in the face of oppression.

Short Questions and Answers about “The Pit and the Pendulum” by Edgar Allan Poe

• Q1: How does Poe create a sense of claustrophobia and disorientation?
• A1: Poe combines pitch-black darkness (“an utter darkness”) with a disorienting exploration of the cell; emphasizing the unknown size, shape, and hidden dangers of his prison. The narrator’s stumbles and near-fall into the pit highlight his vulnerability and the constant, claustrophobic fear of an unseen threat (Poe).
• Q2: What is the significance of the pendulum as a torture device?
• A2: The pendulum’s slow, inevitable descent is psychologically agonizing. It forces the narrator to calculate his own impending death and embodies the torment of time running out. Poe vividly describes the gleaming blade, further emphasizing both the physical danger and the psychological terror of anticipation (Poe).
• Q3: How does the narrator’s hope fluctuate alongside his despair?
• A3: The narrator cycles between resignation (“… and then my limbs were bound…”) and frenzied attempts at survival. Even after escaping the pendulum, his despair returns as the walls close in. Each escape, no matter how fleeting, fuels a glimmer of desperate hope highlighting the resilience of the human spirit (Poe)
• Q4: Is the ending of the story truly a victory?
• A4: While escaping the Inquisition brings physical salvation, the arrival of General Lasalle suggests a new oppressive power. This cyclical view of historical power struggles introduces ambiguity to the ending, questioning if a true “escape” from oppression is actually possible within the context of the story.

Literary Works Similar to “The Pit and the Pendulum” by Edgar Allan Poe

Similar Works and Authors

• Other works by Edgar Allan Poe: Poe’s expertise in crafting psychological horror and gothic atmospheres permeates his short stories and poems. Explore these for shared themes, stylistic techniques, and preoccupations:
  • “The Tell-Tale Heart”
  • “The Fall of the House of Usher”
  • “The Premature Burial”
• Franz Kafka: Kafka’s stories often focus on alienation, existential dread, and the struggle of individuals against oppressive forces both internal and external. Consider his works like The Metamorphosis and The Trial.
• H.P. Lovecraft: Lovecraft’s cosmic horror delves into the fear of the unknown and the insignificance of humanity against ancient, unknowable powers. This evokes a similar existential terror and helplessness as found in “The Pit and the Pendulum”.
• Additional Authors:
  • Shirley Jackson: Her psychological horror stories and novels explore themes of isolation, societal expectations, and the darkness lurking beneath the surface of normalcy.
  • Bram Stoker: His masterpiece Dracula showcases gothic themes of fear, the supernatural, and the monstrous, offering thematic parallels to Poe’s work.

Strengthening Comparisons

When analyzing similarities between “The Pit and the Pendulum” and these works, go beyond surface-level connections. Consider:

• Thematic Overlap: Explore shared preoccupations such as the inevitability of death, the limits of human reason, psychological torment, or the corrupting nature of power.
• Stylistic Similarities: Analyze the use of literary devices like symbolism, foreshadowing, dramatic irony, or unreliable narration.
• Historical Context: Investigate how the time periods in which these authors wrote might have influenced their perspectives and shaped their exploration of fear and the human condition.

Note: This list is not exhaustive. Many other authors and works could be examined for parallels to Poe’s tale.

Suggested Readings: “The Pit and the Pendulum” by Edgar Allan Poe

Books

• Bloom, Harold, ed. Edgar Allan Poe (Bloom’s Modern Critical Interpretations). Chelsea House Publications, 2006.
  • This collection offers a range of critical essays likely to include diverse interpretations and analyses of “The Pit and the Pendulum.”
• Hayes, Kevin J., ed. The Cambridge Companion to Edgar Allan Poe. Cambridge University Press, 2002.
  • Provides essential context for Poe’s life, works, and influence. Useful for understanding thematic patterns and literary techniques relevant to “The Pit and the Pendulum.”

Journal Articles

• Frank, Frederick S. “The Aqua-Gothic Contract in ‘The Pit and the Pendulum.'” ESQ, vol. 39, no. 3, 1993, pp. 169-178.
  • Delves into the gothic elements within Poe’s story, specifically the symbolic and thematic function of water imagery.
• Peeples, Scott. “Poe’s ‘constructiveness’ and ‘The Pit and the Pendulum.'” Current Studies on Edgar Allan Poe, no. 2, 1986, pp. 1-8.
  • Offers a close reading of the story’s structure, highlighting Poe’s deliberate construction of suspense and terror.

Websites

• The Edgar Allan Poe Society of Baltimore: https://www.eapoe.org/
  • A reputable source dedicated to Poe studies, offering scholarly articles, historical context, and potentially specific resources related to “The Pit and the Pendulum.”
• Poetry Foundation: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/
  • While primarily focused on poetry, often includes critical essays and analyses of prose works. May provide supplementary insight into Poe’s writing.