Synopsis

Sentenced to die in a torture chamber, a man tries to use his wits to escape certain death from either falling into a pit, or being sliced by a pendulum descending.

History

First publication: The Gift, Fall 1842

Review

Great opening line: “I was sick-sick unto death with that long agony; and when they at length unbound me, and I was permitted to sit, I felt that my senses were leaving me.”

The whole story is written in a manner that I am just enjoying the words. It needs to be read slowly so you can savor all of the words and enjoy the writing of the story, almost to the point where it doesn’t matter what the story is about.

Very atmospheric, revealing the character’s situation very slowly. Interesting that we never are told what the character is convicted of, making the story very limited to just this dungeon and the torture and nothing else. It is also narrated by the prisoner, making it seem likely that he survives the ordeal. He continues to believe he can get out of this.