I was wondering the bases of Poe's story the Pit and the pendulum? I can not understand it at all. I hope somone can help me with just the main seeting and drift of the whole story. It is urgent cause i must discuss it in class tomorrow. Please Help me as soo as possible. Thanx Aubrey

-- Anonymous, September 15, 2003

Answers

I feel its true purpose was to show his feelings for Sarah Elmira Royster

-- Anonymous, September 15, 2003

The purpose was to subject a fairly solid soldier to the incredible pressures of tortue and madness in trying to escape from the closing in traps of the Inquisition. the victory here would be to remain sane, to overcome the barriers with reason, to survive. The first two he does, not without severe attacks of panic and despair. So defiant is is victory in being able to choose between two horrid fates at the very end that the rescue by outside forces in the nick of time is anticlimactic, for of course, against death, any concrete victory is only temporary.

-- Anonymous, September 16, 2003