Job #1
"To be hanged and drowned" he thought,
"that is not so bad; but I do not wish to be shot. No; I will not be shot; that is not fair." (chapter 3)
We read an Occurence at Owl Creek Bridge this morning as a group. After the story, we talked about execution. As a family we discussed our personal preference of execution for ourselves.
I personally, unlike Mr. Fahrquhar, would rather be shot. I don't want to suffer, I would rather die instantly. I don't understand why Mr. Fahrquhar would prefer not to be shot or why he thinks that would be unfair.
Let me know what your thoughts are on this.
I think during the time, to be hung was the most common punishment and was viewed and the most humane. Maybe because when you are hung you appear somewhat normal, versus when you are shot blood would flow all over the place. Because Mr. Fahrquhar was a gentleman, he may have preferred the most sociably acceptable way instead of the least painful way.
ReplyDeleteI agree! That’s a good thought not sure if it’s true or not but it makes sense.
DeleteI see what you're saying Amber. While he seemed a gentleman we also see how selfish and arrogant he could be when leaving his family. So I guess this part didn't make sense to me either. Because he would care more about his level of pain, than status.
DeleteI agree with you, Jonas! Just shoot me! And that would have been an interesting family discussion :) Did you discuss at the dinner table?
ReplyDeleteNo. It was an intense conversation in the living room.
DeleteFunerals in the 1800's were very public and happened in the home of the deceased with their body viewable in the living room or bedroom. Fahrquhar being a gentleman would have most likely wanted to appear as normal as possible when being viewed which could explain him wanting to be hung and not shot. It could also explain why he wanted to die in the water (drowing) instead of continuing on to the woods with the possibility of being shot. I wonder if this was his reasoning?
ReplyDeleteI agree. Maybe wanting to save face and go through more pain, was worth it for him. However, I believe not wanting to continue to the woods was the wrong choice. If there was any chance to get back to his family he should take it.
DeleteI most definitely agree with Jonas, I would pick being shot and dying instantly instead of being strangled to death.
ReplyDeleteTrue! If it was me...I would rather get it over with! I find it weird that gentleman of that time period were willing to endure pain if it meant keeping a good image/face. This kind of reminds me of secular fraternity groups and fashion models who don't eat and go through lots of pain and not eating just to give off an image that is acceptable to themselves. Very interesting!
ReplyDeleteI agree to! I would rather be shot. It is interesting that in the two different ways to die, it matters socially. For instance, I'm sure somebody of regular status would rather be shot, compared to Fahrquhar who wants to hang because it is more socially acceptable.
ReplyDeleteMakes sense, he probably would have chosen to be shot if wasn't on a higher status. I just think it's so weird how people really worried about what others would think if they didn't die the "right way"
ReplyDelete