Purloined Letter By Edgar Allan Poe example essay topic

A Critical Analysis of "The Purloined Letter " by Edgar Allan Poe Edgar Allan Poe's background influenced him to write the short story "The Purloined Letter". One important influence on the story is that Poe seem to feel inferior this class mates while in college, which may have been why he wrote Dupin to be seen as superior to his colleagues. While at the University of Virginia he owed others high amounts of money because of gambling, he would drink excessively to help hide his feelings of inadequacy. (Taylor) The second influence on this short story I believe is Poe's extent in the United States Army. He time in the military was unsuccessful. Because of his experience he made the Perfect of the police a little lacking in intelligence.

This background, together with a believable plot, convincing characterization, and important literary devices, enables Edgar Allan Poe in "The Purloined Letter" to develop the them that characteristic of the human animal to overlook the obvious. This story does not have a surprise ending nor does is really have a sense of suspense. You know from the beginning who took the letter, but you do not know what information was contained in the letter and how that information would have affect the queen. The only surprise may be in where the letter was keep throughout the story, in plain site. The Perfect of the police searched the Minister's lodgings many nights while the Minister was out. Looked from every possible angle trying to find the letter, not succeeding any of those times.

After looking the Perfect went to Dupin asking for his help. He explains what he has already done. After listing to what the Perfect has to say, Duping oes to see the Minister. While he is there he looks around. On one of the walls he sees a tack board on which the letter is tacked. He takes a careful look at it.

Excuses himself for the day. Dupin "forgets" his snuffbox, so he may return the next day with a copy of the letter and take the real letter and return it to it's rightful owner. In the fake letter Dup inlets the Minister know that he knows what is going on between the Minister and the Queen. The type of conflict face Dupin is that of others. How he interface with the other characters. He has solved the mystery but has to work around the Minister.

While doing this he seeks revenge for an event that happened in the past. The protagonist of "The Purloined Letter" is Dupin, the detective. He is right on the money while talking about how humans over look the most obvious things. That is how he came to find where the letter was hidden while visiting the Minister. Dupin is consistent in his behavior.

He always acts as if he is better than everyone else that he come in contact with. The is shown in the way that he tells a story about big and small signs, which leads to the solving of the not so missing letter. He says that most people over look the obvious, sense he did not over look it, the letter, he is not the average person. His motivation is to show that he is better than the average person.

He displays that just for the fact that he is a detective. One of the many literary devices used by Poe is that of foreshadowing. One place where that is used is near the beginning where it says "If it is any point requiring reflection", observed Dupin, as he forbore to enkindle the wick", we shall examine it to better purpose in the dark". Which implies that the case is so simple that it can be solved in the dark. He said this before hearing anything about the case or the reason for the visit from the Perfect of the police. Poe also use humor throughout the short story".

"Perhaps the mystery is a little to plain", said Dupin". Saying that the Perfect is not smart and making the mystery out harder than it actually is. I believe that the short story "The Purloined Letter" by Edgar Allan Poe is good story about human nature. How us humans tend to over look the obvious. The way Poe achieves this taking to types of people and showing how they see the same situation different ways. Many times you just need to look at the situation from another perspective.

Work CitedDameron, J. Lesley and Jacobs, Robert D. "Edgar Allan Poe". American Literary Critics and Scholars, 1800-1850. Ed. Rathbun, John and Greco, Monica. Vol 59.

Book Tower. Detroit: Gale pg 257-75 Eliot, T.S. "From Poe To Valery" To Criticize the Critic. Ed. Eliot, TBS. Fairer Giroux.

RPT Nineteenth Century Literature Criticism. 1948 pg 33-4 Gross vogel, David I. "The Purloined Letter': The Mystery of the Text". Nineteenth-Century Literature Criticism. ED Harris, Laurie Lanz en. Vol 77 Book Tower.

Detroit: Gale pg 530-32 Hull, Richard. 'The Purloined Letter': Poe's detective story vs. panoptic Foucauldian Theory. Style. vol 2. Issue 2 pg. 201 Kasi nec, Denise and Ono rato, Mary L. Nineteenth-Century Literature Criticism. Vol 55. Chicago: Gale Taylor, Richard C. "Edgar Allan Poe" Colonization to the American Renaissance, 1640-1865.

Vol 2. Book Tower. Detroit: Gale pg 298-344.