Major+Themes-NO




 * Major Themes**

Historians have long debated the causes of the Civil War. They have argued that a split developed between the industrialized North and the agricultural South as both sections vied for control of the nation. The South fighting for their way of life and the North fighting back to uphold the Union and abolish slavery. The time period of this story is a major theme in that the backdrop of the story is a squad of Northern men participating in the procession of a Southern infantrymen. It quickly becomes apparent that this man, Fahrquhar, is being tried because he attempted to destroy the railroad bridge at Owl Creek and is now going to be hung for these war crimes. Then Peyton Fahrquhar has a premonition that he will escape the hanging and return to his wife and kids. In relation to Ambrose Bierces' purpose, this man was probably assigned that mission to blow up the North's bridge yet like the opposing Northerners all he wants is to be home with his family. Ambrose Bierce describes this tale so that one can see the treachery of war as well as the things the men who fight in wars care about.

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