Episode 5: Ambrose Bierce’s “The Boarded Window”
“The Oregon Trail” lied to us!
In 1830, at the coalface of the American frontier, pioneers toiled to establish new homes in deep wilderness only to abandon them all over again in pursuit of the unknown. Among those who remained in the woods outside present-day Cincinnati was a mysterious figure, known as Murlock, living a solitary existence in a one-room cabin, the standout feature of which was a single boarded-up window.
No one could recall a time when it wasn’t sealed off, and the cabin and its enigmatic occupant – a man undone by some deep, unknown grief, fuelled speculation and rumours of the supernatural long after his death.
But tonight’s episode of Paranormal Pajama Party isn’t about Murlock at all. It’s not even about the shocking twist at the end of Ambrose Bierce’s popular short story, “The Boarded Window”. Believe it or not, it’s about a woman.
⚠️ Spoilers ahead for a 133-year-old short story. You can read it here (for free!) first. ⚠️
Why isn’t everyone talking about Mrs murlock?
While tonight’s episode of the podcast begins with a reading of Bierce’s hugely popular short story, we’re here to talk about its unsung heroine – Murlock’s wife.
Without a name or defined backstory, she emerges as the silent champion of the story. Tough, resilient, and ultimately meeting her demise in a harrowing confrontation with a panther (with her hands! literally! tied!), she’s the epitome of the strength and courage of women on the American frontier.
Premature burials and pioneers
In this episode, we’re talking about everything from the 19th-century fear of premature burial (taphophobia, for those in the know), to the lack of autonomy for pioneer wives, to the inadequate representation of women in literature.
It’s almost like – not to get too English-majory about the whole thing – the physical barrier of the boarded window becomes a metaphor for the barriers preventing women’s stories from being heard. 🤯 Almost.
We also take a peek into the life of Ambrose Bierce… who would be very offended by the feminist analysis of his work, that’s for sure.
And you know what? I’m fine with that.
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Sources
The Collected Works of Ambrose Bierce, Volume 2, “The Boarded Window” (Wikisource)
Ambrose Bierce’s The Boarded Window: A Detailed Summary and a Literary Analysis
A Summary and Analysis of Ambrose Bierce’s ‘The Boarded Window’
Woman’s Embodied Self: Feminist Perspectives on Identity and Image