Can Such Things Be?
Ambrose Bierce's *Can Such Things Be?* plunges into the murky depths of the paranormal, gathering nearly all of his supernatural horror stories into one chilling collection. Despite Bierce's own skeptical worldview—he once satirically demanded ghosts appear nude to prove their authenticity—his mastery of the genre is undeniable. From the multi-perspectival terror of "The Moonlit Road" to the pioneering psychological horror of "The Death of Halpin Frayser" and "The Damned Thing," Bierce crafts tales that transcend simple ghost stories. Readers will encounter one of literature's earliest robotic thinking machines in "Moxon's Master," explore existential dread in "Haïta the Shepherd," and confront unsettling ruptures in reality through tales of mysterious disappearances, portals to horrifying dimensions, and altered states of perception.
About Can Such Things Be?
Chapter Summaries
- 1
- A young poet becomes lost in the California wilderness and experiences terrifying supernatural encounters with his deceased mother's vengeful spirit. The story reveals the unnaturally close relationship between mother and son, ending with Halpin's death and the discovery of his body.
- 2
- A man camping in an abandoned mining camp experiences supernatural phenomena and learns the tragic story of the MacGregors, a couple whose violent end left ghostly impressions on the location.
- 3
- Henry Armstrong is buried alive but awakens during a grave-robbing attempt by medical students. The story explores the horror of premature burial and ends with Armstrong's actual death.
Key Themes
- Death and the Afterlife
- Bierce explores various forms of death and what may lie beyond, from vengeful spirits to confused souls who don't realize they're dead. Death is portrayed not as an ending but as a transformation into something potentially more terrifying.
- Guilt and Retribution
- Many characters face supernatural punishment for past sins, whether murder, betrayal, or moral failings. The dead return to exact justice that the living world failed to provide.
- The Limits of Human Perception
- Bierce suggests that reality extends beyond human senses, with invisible forces and creatures existing just outside our ability to perceive them. 'The Damned Thing' exemplifies this theme most directly.
Characters
- Halpin Frayser(protagonist)
- A young poet and dreamer from Nashville who becomes lost in the California wilderness. He experiences supernatural encounters with his deceased mother's spirit.
- Catherine Larue(major)
- Halpin's deceased mother who appears as a malevolent spirit. She had an unusually close relationship with her son before her death.
- Holker(major)
- A deputy sheriff from Napa who investigates mysterious deaths and supernatural occurrences throughout the stories.
- Jaralson(major)
- A detective from San Francisco who works with Holker on supernatural cases. He is knowledgeable about literature and poetry.
- Henry Armstrong(protagonist)
- A man who is buried alive but awakens in his coffin during a grave-robbing attempt. He represents the horror of premature burial.
- Jess(major)
- A large African American man who works at the cemetery and participates in grave robbing for medical students.
