For my E.A.P. class, I read "The Pit and the Pendulum" last night as part of the homework. This was a happy little trangle down Memory Lane...
My best friend and I were perusing through Borders one day after school about seven or eight years ago. On this rare occasion, I had money and decided to take advantage of a two-for-one special. The two books I selected? The Odyssey by Homer because I wanted to look smart and figured I'd read it at some point in high school, and a collection of Edgar Allen Poe stories because what kid doesn't want to look dark and mysterious for liking Poe?
When I had some time later, I started thumbing through it and discovered a story called "The Pit and the Pendulum". Initially, I was slightly disappointed to discover that authors circa 1840's didn't exactly write in modern vernacular, so the going was a little slow. However, upon finishing it, my reaction was akin to something like--
"Awesome--what on Earth did I just read?"
It's been a few years since that initial encounter and I now have a greater appreciation for what Poe was doing with the story. However, rather than examine the journey into the unconscious or Jung's theory on individuation, I'd like to pose a question:
For those of us familiar with the story, we know that the narrator has been captured during the Spanish Inquisition. For whatever reason, they place him in a dungeonesque room in total darkness. He flounders around for a while to figure out the dimensions of his cell when he trips suddenly and discovers an exceedingly deep pit right in the center that his captors clearly hoped he'd fall into. However, upon discovering this, our narrator does the logical thing--he falls asleep. Upon waking up, he discovers that the room is now lit and that he's strapped to a wooden table by means of thick leather straps. When he looks up, he sees a giant scythe swinging like a pendulum closer and closer to where he's confined to the table. Thanks to some quick thinking, he's able to get himself out of that pickle as well. However, here's where I actually bring in my question:
Is it better to die rather quickly and unexpectedly in the dark or to endure prolonged mental agony as you watch your death loom closer and closer? To die in ignorance or to know exactly what's coming?
Any and all opinions on the subject are greatly appreciated. Happy Monday!
