Unit+Four-Division,+Expansion,Reconciliation-Post+Civil+War+Literature

A civilian man named Peyton Farquhar was waiting for his time to come. He knew it was coming soon when he approached the bridge and saw the noose hanging above the stream awaiting him. Farquhar was about to be hung in front of the town and most importantly his wife and children. When he approached the board and when his neck was placed in the noose he could not keep his focus. All Farquhar was focused on was his wife and children and how scared they must be to see their own husband and father soon be hanged. The moment grew closer and closer and Farquhar grew more afraid for his own life and the future of his wife and children. When the moment came he felt the sergeant step off the board and noose tighten around his neck he knew all was not good.
 * Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge: Alternate Ending **

Suddenly when the noose tightened his eyes began to water. While they were watering all he could see were his dear beloved children running toward him screaming and crying. Soon the noose snapped and he fell into the water. Trying not to be seen by the sergeant and his marshals he began to hold his breath for as long as could. While under water gasping for breath he saw his wife and children running alongside the stream. Farquhar began to get a glimpse of hope in surviving and spending the rest of his life with his wife and children. As that hope grew stronger and stronger he began swimming as fast as he could ashore. Breathe taking moments later came and he reunited with his wife and children. As he held his children in his arms and kissing his wife he was so grateful that faith led him in the direction he wanted it to.

Shortly after the Civil War naturalism and realism in literature were put more into play. Writers began focusing on “real life “ meaning, depicted people in real life situations believed that greater forces like FATE ruled and individual’s destiny. Short stories like Daisy Miller, Roman Fever, and Story of an Hour all intertwine with death, irony, and most importantly fate.
 * Fate- Daisy Miller, Roman Fever, Story of an Hour **

In Daisy Miller, Daisy dies of the deadly sickness back in the old days known as Roman Fever. Only fate could define her death. It was also a bit ironic how she died while she was with Mr. Giovanelli and knew to herself she actually wanted to be with Winterbourne but always pushed away and led him on. In the Story of an Hour Mrs. Millard finds out that her husband has died while on the job. While she is at home she is so glad that he has passed and speaks of how “free” she is now that her husband is gone. As an hour passes, her husband comes walking through the door. Mrs. Millard surprised to see her husband is alive takes a heart attack and dies. Fate was the only thing that took Mrs. Millard’s life from her. She was so happy to be “free” that fate decided that wasn’t right and took her life away while her husband lived. This also can be ironic to, how her husband was supposedly dead and she ended up being the dead one. In Roman Fever irony is shown all throughout this short story. Mrs. Slade sent a letter to Mrs. Ansley telling her to meet Delphi (Mrs. Slade’s husband). All Mrs. Slade was trying to do was to get Mrs. Ansley sick. This is ironic because Mrs.Slade and Mrs. Ansley are supposed to be friends, but Mrs. Slade was always jealous of Mrs. Ansley. Later Mrs. Ansley finds out that the letter was a fake and reveals to Mrs. Slade that her daughter Barbara (Mrs. Ansley’s daughter) is the daughter of Mrs. Slade’s husband Delphi.

As Naturalism and Realism take over literature during the 1850s to early 1900s with fate, many symbols also depict this philosophy of fate ruling and individual’s destiny. Symbols such as the moon, Coliseum, Forum, and Roman Fever are all symbolized throughout each short story. The moon symbolizing feminism in Daisy Miller when she is out at night shows how she is breaking the older traditions and not listening to Mrs. Costello or Mrs. Walker who represent the older generation. Also the Coliseum and Forum portray the older traditions and older social norms. In Roman Fever, the titles itself symbolizes disobedience and danger. This symbol intertwines with Daisy Miller when she is out late and catches the illness Roman Fever, this signals danger for Daisy.