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The Truth About Horror
The Truth About Horror
The short story, “The Pit and the Pendulum” was written by Edgar Allan Poe, who is considered to be one of the best horror writers in American Literature. Other examples of short horror stories include “The Possibility of Evil” by Shirley Jackson and “There Will Come Soft Rains” by Ray Bradbury. The reason“The Pit and the Pendulum” is so terrifying is the explicit nature of its horror. Explicit horror is horror on the grand scale: there is the possibility of real suffering, such as lives lost, and the pain and violence are described in graphic detail on the page, rather than left to the imagination. This stands in contrast to implied horror, which uses the suggestion that something bad could happen, but most of the horror takes place in the reader’s imagination. The combination of Poe’s use of sensory details and the fact that the torture described in “The Pit and the Pendulum” actually occurred during the Spanish Inquisition conveys a sense of explicit horror that the other stories do not match. Even though the other stories are certainly chilling in their own ways, they are less effective as horror stories because the reader never has to witness the gore or suffering.
The short story, “The Pit and the Pendulum” was written by Edgar Allan Poe, who is considered to be one of the best horror writers in American Literature. Other examples of short horror stories include “The Possibility of Evil” by Shirley Jackson and “There Will Come Soft Rains” by Ray Bradbury. The reason“The Pit and the Pendulum” is so terrifying is the explicit nature of its horror. Explicit horror is horror on the grand scale: there is the possibility of real suffering, such as lives lost, and the pain and violence are described in graphic detail on the page, rather than left to the imagination. This stands in contrast to implied horror, which uses the suggestion that something bad could happen, but most of the horror takes place in the reader’s imagination. The combination of Poe’s use of sensory details and the fact that the torture described in “The Pit and the Pendulum” actually occurred during the Spanish Inquisition conveys a sense of explicit horror that the other stories do not match. Even though the other stories are certainly chilling in their own ways, they are less effective as horror stories because the reader never has to witness the gore or suffering.
Explicit horror is horror on a grand scale— such as graphic murder and suffering. It evokes the biggest fear every human has: the fear of death.“The Pit and the Pendulum” falls into the explicit horror category because of the strategies Poe implements to effectively create fear. For example, Poe uses sensory details to instill fear in the reader. “The vibration of the pendulum was at right angles to my length. I saw that the crescent was designed to cross the region of the heart. It would fray the serge of my robe—it would return and repeat its operations—again—and again” (Poe 8). When Poe writes “I saw that the crescent was designed to cross the region of the heart,” this imagery forces the readers to envision the horror of being placed underneath a pendulum with a scythe on it, ready to cut at any moment. Poe successfully evokes feelings of discomfort and tension by using sensory details that force the reader to envision, in precise detail, the torture that is about to occur. Poe further implements sensory details to make the reader feel scared on page eight, when the narrator describes the horrific sound the pendulum makes as it gets closer and closer. “Notwithstanding its terrifically wide sweep (some thirty feet or more) and the hissing vigor of its descent” (Poe 8). By using the word “hissing” along with the earlier imagery, Poe helps the reader hear the terrifying sounds of the pendulum as though they are in the room. The way he describes the torture in painstaking detail helps the reader picture exactly what is happening and feel the true horror of the narrator’s situation.
Explicit horror is horror on a grand scale— such as graphic murder and suffering. It evokes the biggest fear every human has: the fear of death.“The Pit and the Pendulum” falls into the explicit horror category because of the strategies Poe implements to effectively create fear. For example, Poe uses sensory details to instill fear in the reader. “The vibration of the pendulum was at right angles to my length. I saw that the crescent was designed to cross the region of the heart. It would fray the serge of my robe—it would return and repeat its operations—again—and again” (Poe 8). When Poe writes “I saw that the crescent was designed to cross the region of the heart,” this imagery forces the readers to envision the horror of being placed underneath a pendulum with a scythe on it, ready to cut at any moment. Poe successfully evokes feelings of discomfort and tension by using sensory details that force the reader to envision, in precise detail, the torture that is about to occur. Poe further implements sensory details to make the reader feel scared on page eight, when the narrator describes the horrific sound the pendulum makes as it gets closer and closer. “Notwithstanding its terrifically wide sweep (some thirty feet or more) and the hissing vigor of its descent” (Poe 8). By using the word “hissing” along with the earlier imagery, Poe helps the reader hear the terrifying sounds of the pendulum as though they are in the room. The way he describes the torture in painstaking detail helps the reader picture exactly what is happening and feel the true horror of the narrator’s situation.
By contrast, “The Possibility of Evil” by Shirley Jackson is less effective at instilling fear, because the horror is more implied. For example, it is definitely sinister that Ms. Strangeworth knows everything about the town and no one’s secrets are safe. However, nothing truly horrible or life-threatening happens in the story. At most, her beloved roses are cut down, but no one’s life is actually hurt, and there are no graphic descriptions of horror. As described on page 8, “Her hand did not shake as she opened the envelope and unfolded the sheet of green paper inside. She began to cry silently for the wickedness of the world when she read the words: LOOK OUT AT WHAT USED TO BE YOUR ROSES” (Jackson 8). Even though the destruction of Ms. Strangeworth’s beloved roses is heartbreaking, nothing life-threatening occurs. This is different from “The Pit and the Pendulum,” where the vivid descriptions of torture shake the reader to their core. In “The Pit and the Pendulum,” every excruciating detail enables the readers to feel the same sense of fear and anticipation the character is going through. It feels as if the reader is strapped to the wood, about to be hit by the pendulum and forced to endure torture. Additionally, “The Pit and the Pendulum” focuses on the moment before torture begins, which is part of why the story is so terrifying. When someone is about to be tortured, that is likely when they experience the most intense fear, because they are afraid of the unknown. During the torture, the victim feels pain, but they may not feel scared in the same way, because they are no longer anticipating something that has not yet occurred. As described by a torture survivor from Syria,
By contrast, “The Possibility of Evil” by Shirley Jackson is less effective at instilling fear, because the horror is more implied. For example, it is definitely sinister that Ms. Strangeworth knows everything about the town and no one’s secrets are safe. However, nothing truly horrible or life-threatening happens in the story. At most, her beloved roses are cut down, but no one’s life is actually hurt, and there are no graphic descriptions of horror. As described on page 8, “Her hand did not shake as she opened the envelope and unfolded the sheet of green paper inside. She began to cry silently for the wickedness of the world when she read the words: LOOK OUT AT WHAT USED TO BE YOUR ROSES” (Jackson 8). Even though the destruction of Ms. Strangeworth’s beloved roses is heartbreaking, nothing life-threatening occurs. This is different from “The Pit and the Pendulum,” where the vivid descriptions of torture shake the reader to their core. In “The Pit and the Pendulum,” every excruciating detail enables the readers to feel the same sense of fear and anticipation the character is going through. It feels as if the reader is strapped to the wood, about to be hit by the pendulum and forced to endure torture. Additionally, “The Pit and the Pendulum” focuses on the moment before torture begins, which is part of why the story is so terrifying. When someone is about to be tortured, that is likely when they experience the most intense fear, because they are afraid of the unknown. During the torture, the victim feels pain, but they may not feel scared in the same way, because they are no longer anticipating something that has not yet occurred. As described by a torture survivor from Syria,
“They forced me to undress. Then they started squeezing my fingers with pliers. They put staples in my fingers, chest and ears. I was only allowed to take them out if I spoke. The nails in the ears were the most painful. They used two wires hooked up to a car battery to give me electric shocks. They used electric stun-guns on my genitals twice. I thought I would never see my family again” (Shah).
“They forced me to undress. Then they started squeezing my fingers with pliers. They put staples in my fingers, chest and ears. I was only allowed to take them out if I spoke. The nails in the ears were the most painful. They used two wires hooked up to a car battery to give me electric shocks. They used electric stun-guns on my genitals twice. I thought I would never see my family again” (Shah).
The graphic violence of torture allows the reader to fully feel the horror of such a situation and imagine the effects on the body. Even though the narrator of “The Pit and the Pendulum” was not shocked and did not have nails hammered into his ears, Poe describes the torture of the pendulum on the same level as the torture experienced by the Syrian survivor above, and that is why this story is so successful in creating fear for the reader. “The Possibility of Evil” is not as scary as“The Pit and the Pendulum” because the fear in “The Possibility of Evil” is implied, whereas “The Pit and the Pendulum” is more explicit.
The graphic violence of torture allows the reader to fully feel the horror of such a situation and imagine the effects on the body. Even though the narrator of “The Pit and the Pendulum” was not shocked and did not have nails hammered into his ears, Poe describes the torture of the pendulum on the same level as the torture experienced by the Syrian survivor above, and that is why this story is so successful in creating fear for the reader. “The Possibility of Evil” is not as scary as“The Pit and the Pendulum” because the fear in “The Possibility of Evil” is implied, whereas “The Pit and the Pendulum” is more explicit.
“There Will Come Soft Rains” by Ray Bradbury also falls into the category of implied horror. “There Will Come Soft Rains” is about a future where mankind is destroyed because of technology. The fact that humans bring about their own destruction is certainly scary, but it is not as horrifying as “The Pit and the Pendulum.” “The Pit and the Pendulum” is set during the Spanish Inquisition, which was a real event in history. The reader knows that the story takes place during the bloody Inquisition because the narrator says he is in the dungeons in Toledo. “Moreover, my dungeon, as well as all the condemned cells at Toledo, had stone floors, and light was not altogether excluded” (Poe 7). Toledo was the home of the Inquisition, so readers can infer that the torture in the story occurs during the Spanish Inquisition. Conversely, “There Will Come Soft Rains” is set in the future, which means the readers do not know if the events of the story will ever actually happen in real life. Some of the actual torture that took place during the Inquisition is very similar to Poe’s pendulum, “The hands of the accused were tied behind his back and the rope looped over a brace in the ceiling of the chamber or attached to a pulley. Then the subject was raised until he was hanging from his arms. This might cause the shoulders to pull out of their sockets” (Freeman). The torture used during the Spanish Inquisition changed the lives of thousands of innocent people who just wanted to stay true to their religion. They were forced to go through extreme horror because of their beliefs. This is why “The Pit and the Pendulum” is more effective as a horror story than “There Will Come Soft Rains.” In “There Will Come Soft Rains,” the readers do not know if the horror described will actually occur or not, and that makes it seem like a far away possibility.
“There Will Come Soft Rains” by Ray Bradbury also falls into the category of implied horror. “There Will Come Soft Rains” is about a future where mankind is destroyed because of technology. The fact that humans bring about their own destruction is certainly scary, but it is not as horrifying as “The Pit and the Pendulum.” “The Pit and the Pendulum” is set during the Spanish Inquisition, which was a real event in history. The reader knows that the story takes place during the bloody Inquisition because the narrator says he is in the dungeons in Toledo. “Moreover, my dungeon, as well as all the condemned cells at Toledo, had stone floors, and light was not altogether excluded” (Poe 7). Toledo was the home of the Inquisition, so readers can infer that the torture in the story occurs during the Spanish Inquisition. Conversely, “There Will Come Soft Rains” is set in the future, which means the readers do not know if the events of the story will ever actually happen in real life. Some of the actual torture that took place during the Inquisition is very similar to Poe’s pendulum, “The hands of the accused were tied behind his back and the rope looped over a brace in the ceiling of the chamber or attached to a pulley. Then the subject was raised until he was hanging from his arms. This might cause the shoulders to pull out of their sockets” (Freeman). The torture used during the Spanish Inquisition changed the lives of thousands of innocent people who just wanted to stay true to their religion. They were forced to go through extreme horror because of their beliefs. This is why “The Pit and the Pendulum” is more effective as a horror story than “There Will Come Soft Rains.” In “There Will Come Soft Rains,” the readers do not know if the horror described will actually occur or not, and that makes it seem like a far away possibility.
Poe is successful in making readers feel scared and tense while reading “The Pit and the Pendulum.” The way he describes the torture in excruciating detail helps the reader to picture exactly what is happening and feel the true horror of the narrator’s situation. Even though the short horror story “The Possibility of Evil” by Shirley Jackson is disturbing, it does not have the graphic details and gore that truly frighten readers. Additionally, even though the short horror story “There Will Come Soft Rains” by Ray Bradbury does force the reader to think about a terrifying possible future, the downfall of humanity is something that has not yet occurred, unlike the violent Spanish Inquisition. This suggests that horror genre readers are more intrigued by explicit horror than implied horror because they enjoy the thrill of experiencing real fear. Readers enjoy the adrenaline rush and the simulation of a near-death experience that explicit horror can provide without being truly dangerous. Explicit horror is more effective in delivering this because the true horror is evident on the page for the reader to fully experience, as opposed to implied horror, which mostly relies on the reader’s imagination.
Poe is successful in making readers feel scared and tense while reading “The Pit and the Pendulum.” The way he describes the torture in excruciating detail helps the reader to picture exactly what is happening and feel the true horror of the narrator’s situation. Even though the short horror story “The Possibility of Evil” by Shirley Jackson is disturbing, it does not have the graphic details and gore that truly frighten readers. Additionally, even though the short horror story “There Will Come Soft Rains” by Ray Bradbury does force the reader to think about a terrifying possible future, the downfall of humanity is something that has not yet occurred, unlike the violent Spanish Inquisition. This suggests that horror genre readers are more intrigued by explicit horror than implied horror because they enjoy the thrill of experiencing real fear. Readers enjoy the adrenaline rush and the simulation of a near-death experience that explicit horror can provide without being truly dangerous. Explicit horror is more effective in delivering this because the true horror is evident on the page for the reader to fully experience, as opposed to implied horror, which mostly relies on the reader’s imagination.
Works Cited
Works Cited
Bradbury, Ray. There Will Come Soft Rains. Diesterweg, 2012.
Bradbury, Ray. There Will Come Soft Rains. Diesterweg, 2012.
Freeman, Shanna. “How the Spanish Inquisition Worked.” HowStuffWorks, HowStuffWorks, 5 Feb. 2008, history.howstuffworks.com/historical-figures/spanish-inquisition3.htm.
Freeman, Shanna. “How the Spanish Inquisition Worked.” HowStuffWorks, HowStuffWorks, 5 Feb. 2008, history.howstuffworks.com/historical-figures/spanish-inquisition3.htm.
Parks, John Gordon. The Possibility of Evil: the Fiction of Shirley Jackson. University of New Mexico, 1974.
Parks, John Gordon. The Possibility of Evil: the Fiction of Shirley Jackson. University of New Mexico, 1974.
Poe, Edgar Allan. Fiction and Poetry: Complete and Unabridged. Barnes and Noble, 2006.
Poe, Edgar Allan. Fiction and Poetry: Complete and Unabridged. Barnes and Noble, 2006.
Shah, Vikas. “Torture.” Thought Economics, 3 June 2015, thoughteconomics.com/torture/.
Shah, Vikas. “Torture.” Thought Economics, 3 June 2015, thoughteconomics.com/torture/.
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