In the 1100s, the practice of starvation in pits as punishment became a grim reality in medieval castles. Prisoners were confined in oubliettes or pits, where they faced a slow death from hunger and disease. This method of punishment was not only a means of execution but also a demonstration of power and control by the ruling class. This event reflects the harsh realities of medieval justice and the often brutal treatment of prisoners.

The practice of starvation in pits as punishment in medieval castles around 1100 evoked themes of isolation and despair in dungeon poetry and Gothic romances. Poets like Edgar Allan Poe and Lord Byron explored the darker aspects of human experience, using such historical narratives to enhance their works.