The Pit and the Pendulum by Edgar Allan Poe - Short Story Summary, Analysis, Review 

So great! I always saw this as a description of a moment of anxiety, and that "happy ending" that Krypto sees it as, is actually a worse ending than if he hadn't escaped, as it suggests they they will be right back in the situation, the back and forth of the pendulum, a metaphor many philosophers used to express this. Very similar to how you brought in the death drive, Kierkegaard would bring this to anxiety in a very similar manner. Just wonderful!

the essay saviors right here

Quite serendipitous that you guys are covering this, because I just watched the Vincent Price/Roger Corman movie by the same name (basically in name only), a few nights ago. I haven't read Poe's short story for myself yet, but I know the story takes place during the Spanish Inquisition, so that might be something to take into consideration as well.

Great interpretation of the pit and pendulum. As for where he found himself and who he was? He could have been anybody. Because these are the places that we all find ourselves during times of personal grievance. For those of the intellectual mind, it is tougher to go through grievance periods. Then it is for anybody else who is able to forgive and forget and move on. But for those who cannot move on the end up in their own personal pit. And we end up here because we are trying to figure out where we went wrong. But unfortunately, it's going over and over and over within our minds... Up until the time that we get some sort of spiritual closure from above. These types of grievance periods that I speak of include that of "love lost through sudden relationship breakups and/or the death of a loved one" In Poe's case, it could have been both? And for those in the intellectual mind , they're more off to document everything that goes on within their lives by writing it down, then to outwardly express what's going on, to other people. (Internalize rather than externalize) I've been there and done that myself, and i'm sure that there are lots of other guys who have done so in the past. Which moved some to write books upon what they had personally witnessed first hand, from the other side as well. ;)

Loved this discussion. Interesting discussion with the psychology interpretations!

Finally got around to reading this story. Enjoyed it immensely until the ending. Magically freed out of nowhere at the end 🙄. 4 out of 5 stars for me.

I will have to go back a read this story again!

I am the pendulum! Very funny that we both decided to talk about Poe today. Loved the analysis and infusion of psychology.

l adore symbolism of POE all the time .This is the my favourite one from University literature lesson

I have listened to an audio book version of this story and I was so lost. I listened to it at least 5x. I was applying my mind to it in a very literal fashion waiting to be told what was happening. With these ideas of possible explanations I will give it one more chance if I have the spirit. LOL

What i noticed on this story is the fact of casualty and probability that Poe has mentioned in other stories like The murder in the rue Morguer. And this scenario is unbelievable but still possible (I’m talking about the scenario in which he is luckily saved)

_First!_ I am The Pit. 🤔😎😂 I want that Faulkner shirt y'all be wearin' ... 🎸 Like the new haircut, Una ... "Styling!" I need to get my lazy ass to the barber. Period! 🤠 The "Death Drive ..." Good one, fellas ☺️

He's a victim of the Spanish Inquisition... did he do "wrong"?