Dark Romanticism in "The Pit and the Pendulum"

The style or style of Dark Romanticism could be defined as being focused on sin, tragedy, mystery, and evil, and these are extremely psychological ideals. While reading the short story by Edgar Allan Poe titled "The Pit and the Pendulum," it was evident to me that it was almost the epitome of the Dark Romantic qualities. The story even begins with a condemned prisoner, of which the reader does not know of the exact crime, being sentenced by black-robed judges with lips that were "white-whiter than the sheet upon which I trace these words" (Poe 263). Right from the beginning, the dark mood and tone are set. Later in the story, we find that the main character is being tortured by the use of such instruments as a large scythe and a seemingly never-ending pit. All the traits of dark romanticism which I listed previously are apparent in this short story, and they are in full effect. Most noticeably, the facts of torture, imprisonment in a dungeon, and ongoing fear in the heart of the prisoner.

The most easily distinguishable and distinct factor of this story relating to Dark Romanticism that I saw in this short story was fear and terror in the mind of the prisoner. As the story opens, he is being sentenced by seemingly evil judges for a crime that the readers to not know about (Poe 263). I think that it is better that the reader does not know the exact crime because if they did, they probably would not have as much sympathy for the poor man as they presently do. As he is physically imprisoned in the dungeon, fear is indubitably the main emotion he is feeling. At first, he even thinks he is in a tomb until he bleakly attempts to measure the perimeter of his cell (Poe 266). This to me is the epitome of the Dark Romanticism period because his mind is so dark, and the prisoner is truly frightened and in suspense. The fainting of the prisoner causes even more suspense for the reader because they never know what will come about when he comes to. For example, at point point, he wakes up and finds himself tied to a board with a scythe above his head (Poe 269). This conveys a very dark mood and heavy sense of death, which furthermore, is conveyed throughout the entire story.

In addition to the factor of fear and horror in this story, Dark Romanticism is represented very well by the deathly qualities all throughout the work. One specific example comes in the very beginning of the story directly after the prisoner is sentenced. As the candles on the desk of the judges melted away, so did the hope and faith of the prisoner Poe 263-264). At this point, the reader may infer that there may be much tragedy and deathly qualities in the coming story. This is certainly evident further on when the prisoner has had more time in the dungeon. As the red hot walls close in on him, it is apparent that his death is near (Poe 271). Truly, that is what the Dark Romanticism period is about. The prisoner's overall fear and assumed tragedy really convey the Dark Romantic qualities.

Works Cited

Poe, Edgar A. "The Pit and the Pendulum." Glencoe Literature. Comp. Jeffery D. Wilhelm. American Literature ed. Coumbus: McGraw-Hill, 2009. 263-73. Print.