Theocracy, rule by strict religious texts, is the most evil and unholy form of governance conceived by mankind. At first, this claim may seem contradictory, after all, these texts define holiness. Though upon further inspection upon almost every theocratic regime in human history, it is easy to see the recurring themes of totalitarianism, cruel and unusual punishment, and autocracy. Are these words someone would describe as holy? Would totalitarians be seen as good by a divine creator? It is a simple paradox explored in Edgar Allan Poe’s The Pit and the Pendulum, which describes the sentence of a man convicted of an unknown crime by the theocratic Spanish Monarch and the Spanish Inquisition. E.A. Poe’s The Pit and the Pendulum uses a blend…show more content… To this I was securely bound by a long strap resembling a surcingle.” (Poe 11, 12) This is important, as it shows that a simple execution for his crime is not enough, rather he must be tortured as he is forced to watch his own executioner as he awaits his official “punishment.” As he looks directly at the ceiling, he describes, “the painted figure of Time as he is commonly represented, save that, in lieu of a scythe” (Poe 12) which is a reference to Father Time. Father Time is a symbol representing the very concept of time itself, though the way he is portrayed may seem familiar, as he is often portrayed as a wise bearded man in the sky dressed in a robe, very similar to that of how monotheists perceive their god to appear. In many Christian scriptures, God is also often referred to as God the Father. It is simple how one could perceive God and Father Time as the same person, the only difference being one is more abstract and open to interpretation. The symbolism behind this portrait of Father Time is God’s Institutions (theocracies and the Catholic Church) had no mercy for the defenseless, and were wicked in their dealings with sin and punishment. With these details in mind it is certain that E.A. Poe is using Father Time as a symbol of the religious institution’s cruelty and disregard for human
