The actions of men often take a particular course that results in decisive speculations. Unfortunately, man does not initiate the cause and hence the result is often quite contrary or it does suffer at the hands of fate. Certainly, not all actions require providential justification. In the story, The Drawbridge, the death of the baroness could be related to her own deeds, neither fate nor the course of events bearing testimony to her death.
From the story, it is quite obvious that the baron is responsible for the death of his wife. To prove so, there are several instances and actions that go unsaid. To substantiate my point, I would like to begin from the first paragraph where we have the baron, expressing his jealousy and not paying any heed to his wife. The baroness is forced to stay back while her husband is away. It is assumed that he knows that his wife has a lover and he wants to unearth the truth. In order that this unfair relationship be brought to light, he purposely leaves the countryside.
The baroness falls into his trap and decides to go to meet her lover. Perhaps the baron could have sent the mad man so that his wife would not be able to escape. True to this, out of fear of reaching her home on time, she approaches the ferryman who refuses to help her out for want of money. This could also be the plot of the baron to ruin his wife. Her only hope to escape from the clutches of her evil husband was to get help from her friend, who ditches her for she has disobeyed her husband. It can be presumed that the three – the madman, the ferryman, and her friend work according to the dictates of the baron.
It would not be a futile exercise to work out the three instances at length.
The madman may not usually come that way. Therefore, it could probably be the work of the baron to scare his wife. In a state of utter confusion and worry, it is quite obvious that the baroness might seek help from elsewhere. The madman, it can be assumed is positioned by the baron to bring out the illicit relationship of his wife. It is probable that the baron has come to know of this affair and wants to put an end to her. The mad man could have been influenced by the baron with money or he would have been threatened by the baron. It might be that the madman comes to his senses at times and the baron has taken advantage of his mental state. The baron knows that he would not be punished for the crime as the madman gets legal protection for his mental state. The baron is very shrewd in executing his well-planned murder.
The baroness, in utter desperation and out of fear approaches her lover first, who refuses help. He is cunning enough to point out the fact that his affair with her is purely romantic and that he has no other commitment otherwise. It can be assessed that the baroness under sheer desperation hurries to the drawbridge to meet the ferryman. The ferryman could have been kind enough to oblige the lady and he probably knows that she does not have money and therefore purposely asks her for 5 francs. This could be the plan of her husband who could have put in a word to the ferryman. He could have known from the baron that the baroness’ life is in danger and is thoroughly aware of the preplanned murder of the baroness by the madman. Finally, the ferryman probably could have put her into a trap lest he earns the wrath of the baron.
Utterly in a bad shape, the only refuge is her friend. But it cannot be denied that her friend could have been influenced by the baron and hence, she refuses to help the baroness. Her friend argues that the baron has been betrayed and it is sure that he will take revenge. She too could have known about the baron’s evil designs. The baroness’ friend, it seems, is quite afraid of the baron. It is probable that the baron is watching the turn of events and hence has rightly put his wife in a delicate situation. The baroness can neither disclose her love affair to the baron nor can she stay away from meeting her lover despite the baron’s warning.
Since the baroness does not have any other option, she decides to meet with her fate. She knows very well that the baron’s threat is very serious and he means whatever he says. She could not have the slightest doubt that it could be the baron who is responsible for the tight spot that she is in. and she is least bothered about it. She is broken-hearted as her lover has ditched her and now, may have no other commitments except going back to her husband and confessing the guilt. She is also ready to face the consequences and may try to patch up the neglected family life. She approaches the madman and makes a futile attempt to get past him. It costs her life and the baron has had his revenge on his unfaithful wife.