In "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge," Ambrose Bierce highlights the natural human instinct for survival and the desperate lengths individuals will go to in order to escape death. The main character, Peyton Farquhar, tries to outwit his captors and cheat death by imagining a miraculous escape from his impending hanging. This story illustrates the intense fear and panic that death can provoke in individuals, as well as the resilience and determination that can arise in the face of imminent death. Overall, the story suggests that humans have a complex and varied reaction to death, often driven by a combination of fear, hope, and a will to survive.
