Edgar Allan POE- Tales of Ratiocination PDF

Preview

Summary

Class Essays and Chapter analysis including book reviews....

Description

Edgar Allan Pore- Tales of Ratiocination Edgar Allan Poe is regarded as a literary genius who excelled in various genres rather than concentrating on a single one. He rose to prominence as a poet, literary critic, and author of gothic horror and science fiction stories. He was also one of the first authors of crime fiction, thanks to his tales of ratiocination, as he called them. This paper will discuss and analyze some of his works. Development of Detective Fiction Action, conflict, mystery, and other elements abound in twenty-first-century detective stories. However, this is a relatively new development. There’s a lot more to it than the majority of people realize. From a Frenchman named Vidocq to Edgar Allan Poe’s creation of modern detective fiction to today’s evolution of detective stories and characters. So, what made Poe such a significant figure in the history of detective fiction, and how did his work evolve after his death? Crime stories piqued people’s interest in the early 1800s, owing to their fascination with and fear of crime. The first writing on urban crime pretended to be a documentary. Still, it was filled with archetypes and plots from preceding fiction, particularly the gothic novel: “The first writing on urban crime pretended to be documentary, but it was filled with archetypes and plots from preceding fiction, particularly the gothic novel” (Marling 2). The detective as a character first appeared in the early 1800s. Memoirs of Vidocq, written by Eugène François Vidocq, the father of modern criminology and the first private detective, inspired writers such as Victor Hugo's Les Misérables and Honoré de Balzac's Le Pere Goriot to create the first of many detective figures based on Vidocq. Of course, Vidocq influenced other writers, not just those who wrote crime stories but also those who wrote novels. The novel Great Expectations by Charles Dickens is an excellent example of this.

The most significant difference between the previously mentioned crime stories and Poe's Murders in the Rue Morgue is that they did not build their story/case around the detectives: "Before Poe, the early crime stories did not revolve around the individual detective" (Freewebs editor 3). The central theme of crime fiction is the solving of a crime, usually a murder mystery. Crime fiction texts raise questions about what it means to be human and identity. (Freewebs editor 1) When Poe created Dupin, he gave him a lot of his personality traits. Poe didn't believe in the supernatural. Dupin didn't either, giving him a far more realistic perspective on things, which I think gave the detective a significant advantage over others when solving a case. Poe introduces three basic motifs of detective fiction in "The Murders in the Rue Morgue." The first is the wrongly accused man, followed by the crime in the locked room, and finally, an unexpected solution. It is also worth noting that Dupin outsmarts the cops by solving the case, which is an element that appears in many, if not all, detective stories. The reader learns about another favourite element of detective fiction in The Purloined Letter: the recovery and safekeeping of the "document(s)" required to ensure the safety of one or more essential individuals. To ensure Dupin's success, Poe reintroduces familiar detective fiction motifs such as outsmarting and deceiving other genius minds, finding evidence in the most obvious place, and the use of disguise. Although the element of deception may not be immediately apparent upon first reading, I am confident that using the green spectacles to deceive D—serves as an early version of using clothing or other accessories to deceive another character. Poe introduces the method of recreating a crime by recollecting and putting together newspaper reports of the same case in Dupin's third story, The Mystery of Marie Rogêt. While Dupin is Poe's most outstanding detective fiction, we must take a step back to appreciate Poe's other two works. Readers of Thou Art the Man and The Gold Bug will be familiar with new detectives fiction motifs such as the criminal's spirit

breaking and confessing when confronted with the enormity of his crime, misdirection by following the wrong clues, and the climaxing moment when the criminal is the least likely suspect. All five stories, of course, have the typical unexpected ending found in gothic novels at the time of Poe's writing. However, not to be forgotten are a few other detective stories in which Dupin appears, even though Poe did not write them. The Vanished Treasure and The Fires in the Rue St. Honoré, both published by Mycroft & Moran in a collection of seven short stories, The Murder of Edgar Allen Poe by George Egon Hatvary, and so on. The exciting thing about most of these stories in which Dupin appears is that he either meets or is mistaken for Poe himself. Poe's writings served as a role model for the new detective fiction, much like Vidocq's did in his time. Still, unlike Poe, who introduced the reader to a new type of detective story, the new generation of writers kept and used the unique motifs and elements that Poe created. None other than the world's most famous detective, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes, could serve as a better example. In my opinion, the best comparison to Dupin is Sherlock Holmes. The perception of detective fiction has shifted dramatically in the twentieth century. This is due to the new generation, of course. Due to the lack of action, most of the younger generation lacks the imagination to fully comprehend and enjoy works like The Murders in the Rue Morgue or Sherlock Holmes. Thanks to television and computer games, today's generation is accustomed to constant action and violence. As these factors changed, the entertainment industry took on new characteristics. I will have to stick with Sherlock Holmes because there have not been any film adaptations of Dupin in recent years. While the new film is still a detective story, it can easily be classified as an action film.

Detective fiction is a genre that is still evolving, as new elements are only now beginning to emerge, thanks to rapid technological advancements and a shift in mindset. However, this does not guarantee that it will progress in a positive direction. There are far too many factors at play, but we do our part to preserve the foundations of this great genre while also adding our ideas to make it even better. Summary of The Murders on the Rue Morgue "The Murders in the Rue Morgue" introduces more basic features of detective fiction than any of Poe's other short stories because it was his first tale of ratiocination. Three central ideas are among these fundamental characteristics: For starters, the murder takes place in a locked room with no apparent exit. This idea is expanded (though essentially retained) in later detective fiction and is used when the author sets the murder scene in a closed environment. For example, on a train, where the murderer is included among the passengers; on an island, the murderer must logically still be there; or on an estate, where the murderer must logically still be there. Second, motive, access, and other clear evidence point to someone who is not guilty. As is the case with Le Bon (Adolphe de Bon), who "once rendered me a service for which I am not ungrateful," the amateur detective is drawn into the case because a friend or acquaintance has been falsely accused. As a result of an obligation to the accused, M. Dupin is drawn into the matter. Finally, the detective comes up with a novel way to solve the issue. While, as previously mentioned, all of the clues should be available, the beauty of detective fiction lies in the unlikely solution, which only makes sense in retrospect. In this Poe novel, two aphorisms about today's detective fiction are also introduced. To begin with, the truth is what remains after the unthinkable has been decided — no matter how unlikely the fact appears to be. The police conclude or suspect that there was no way out of the murdered women's room. The door was tightly locked from the inside, as were all the

windows. Second, the more complex the crime appears to be and the more unusual it appears to be, the more quickly — ironically — the case will be solved — by the lead investigator. For example, in "The Murders in the Rue Morgue," the police are baffled as to how a nonrational, inhuman being might breach the boundaries of the law, tradition, and civilized order and perpetrate such a gruesome and horrible atrocity on two well-protected women. The police cannot believe that a "person" might have done this because the house was designed to protect it from the same actions committed there. The murders can only be solved logically if a person can align his human mind with a non-human sense and with a beast's irrational behaviour. M. Dupin is a personification of a man with a pure poetic insight that borders on omniscience. His solutions are almost "dreamed" by him. His analytical approach compares his intelligence to that of another person to deduce what that person would think or do. M. Dupin can fully interact with other people's thoughts in the first part of the story that he sometimes addresses questions before they are even asked; it's as if he has an extrasensory vision. However, in this story, no human is for his intellect to identify with; as a result, when he comes across something that seems to be impossible, he starts to search for a potential equation. M. Dupin begins to search for other outlets because it is unlikely for a person to commit the murders. He can solve a perplexing problem that no one else can solve using this form of ratiocination and intuitive perception. As a result, he becomes the first in a long line of talented, quirky detectives capable of solving complex murders that confound the rest of the world.

Summary on The Mystery of Marie Roget

When we say Edgar Allan Poe invented the detective novel, we may as well say he invented the detective himself. When “The Murders in the Rue Morgue” was first published in Graham Magazine in 1841, Boston was only five years away from establishing the United States' first trained police detective unit. Indeed, Poe developed one of the most enduring tropes of the genre when he created C. Auguste Dupin to solve mysteries using “ratiocination,” or the forces of reasoning: a mystery with no obvious answer is solved by a civilian who is inspired primarily by the excitement and difficulty of the puzzle. However, pointing out some of Poe's real-life inspirations for his stories does not diminish his vast and macabre imagination. Poe was probably familiar with the writings of Eugène Vidocq, a French criminal-turned-informant who pioneered some of the techniques we associate with the detective profession today, such as taking a shoe print impression. (A few of his works are on display in our latest show, Clever Criminals and Daring Detectives.) Then there's "The Mystery of Marie Roget," based on a sudden death that enthralled New Yorkers in the 1840s. The body of a young girl was discovered in the Hudson River in 1841, and it was named Mary Rogers, a noted beauty who worked as a tobacco shop clerk. While her body and clothes appeared bruised, the cause of her death was unknown. Years later, Edgar Allan Poe would write that “the death of a beautiful woman is, without a doubt, the most poetical subject in the world,” which might explain why the death of “The Beautiful Cigar Girl” sparked a slew of theories, speculation, and gossip–not all of it poetical. Some speculated that gangs caused the crime. Many people assumed Mary's fiancé's despair was proof of his guilt when he committed suicide several months later. Mary's history and present were scrutinized. When it was discovered that she had vanished from her home under unexplained circumstances for one day several years before, it appeared that she had committed suicide or was in some other trouble. Although there was no proof that Mary was pregnant (according to

the coroner's report), a common hypothesis proposed that she died due to a botched abortion performed by Madame Restell, a woman known for her services to women who did not want to be pregnant. The mystery of Mary Rogers was never solved, despite the intense public interest–or perhaps because of it, as the case inspired many false confessions. Summary of Purloined Letter "The Purloined Letter," perhaps the most popular of Edgar Allan Poe's detective stories, departs from his typical horror genre to offer a detective tale devoid of violence but rich in interpretation. As the Prefect of the Paris Police comes by, the first-person narrator is sitting in Dupin's library with his friend C. Auguste Dupin. He plans to tell them about an unsolved case he's working on. He explains why a man standing right in front of her took a letter from a powerful woman. She could not stop him because a third party was in the room, and she didn't want to draw attention to the message, which contained classified information. As a result, the police officer is aware that the Minister robbed this royal personage and has the letter in his hands, but the police cannot locate it. The officer claims that he has seen many searches of the Minister and that he is not bringing the letter with him. They have also ransacked his home at night while he is out, searching inside every piece of furniture, every book, and under every floorboard for signs of the letter. Despite his thoroughness, Dupin advises the Prefect to conduct another inspection of the residence. After becoming utterly dissatisfied with the situation, the Perfect returns a month later to meet with the same two gentlemen. He claims he has not been able to locate the letter, and the reward has been increased to the point that he'd be willing to pay a year's salary to whoever can identify it for him. Dupin instructs him to write a check for his salary of 50,000 francs and then hand over the note. The cop writes him a check with scepticism, and Dupin

immediately produces the missing message. The officer is so taken aback that he walks away silently. Dupin's friend is taken aback and wonders how he was able to locate the message. Dupin explains that the police searches are extensive but overly methodical. They still search in the same way, without understanding the criminal's thought process. Not all have the same viewpoint. It's crucial to understand the personality and intellect of the individual who is concealing the facts. Dupin was aware that the Minister is a poet and a mathematician in this situation. Mathematicians are typically known for their reasoning, but the Minister's poetic side went beyond that. Since the Minister anticipated the police's tactics, he did not conceal the letter wherever he knew they would look. Instead, he chose to use deception to hide the letter in plain sight, knowing that the police would not see it. He crumpled and folded the letter to the point that it seemed aged and tired. After that, he turned it inside out to hide the contents and lock it. Analysis of Whodunit Elements A strong hook: A good mystery should entice the reader and try to solve the crime, and a strong start is essential to pique their interest. A mystery should begin with just enough detail about the crime to pique the reader's interest right away. This is the point at which a reader decides whether or not to continue reading. The reader expects the rest of the book to be the same if the dramatic aspect is absent from the start. The first chapter should set the tone for the mystery, putting the reader in the shoes of the main character on a crime-solving adventure. An ominous, uneasy atmosphere should be created by the setting in stories in this genre to support the anxiety of an unseen enemy hiding in the shadows. Consider Sherlock

Holmes slinking through the London fog in search of a murderer in Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes. There are also ways to plant clues and red herrings in mystery settings. In a mystery book, a crime is the incident that drives the plot. A crime, which is revealed in the first chapter, provides the core tension that propels the main character on their journey and drives the narrative arc. A sleuth: Any mystery has a main character who is determined to solve the case. In his novels, mystery writer Raymond Chandler established private investigator Philip Marlowe as a crime solver. By having the detective emotionally involved in solving the case, a writer will lift the stakes. An amateur investigator—a regular person who solves the case— can be the focus of a mystery. The sleuth's character must be developed; they must have a backstory that ties them to the crime or the murderer, as well as a motivation that explains why solving this crime is important to them. Characterization of Dupin Poe establishes the detective fiction genre and C. Auguste Dupin, the first professional sleuth, in the stories "The Murders in the Rue Morgue" and "The Purloined Letter." Dupin operates outside of traditional policing procedures in both "The Murders in the Rue Morgue" and "The Purloined Letter," and he uses his detachment from traditional law enforcement to try new ways of solving crimes. He is adamant that the Paris police use stale and unoriginal methods of investigation. He claims that the police are easily overwhelmed by the details of the crime and are unable to investigate from an objective perspective. The cops in "The Murders in the Rue Morgue" can not get past the grotesque aspect of the double homicide. They are so preoccupied with the mutilated and choked victims that they fail to check the apartment's windows, which show a point of entry and escape. Dupin removes himself from the scene's violence's emotional component. He sees the crime scene as a place of calculation,

as if pitted against him in a chess game, and he considers the murderer's movements as if pitted against him in a chess game. Characterization and Critique of police as being dump/useless The pitiful police chief, whose meticulous, thorough, but unimaginative approach to crime-solving is mocked by Dupin. Despite the fact that he is more officially relevant than Dupin and even manages high-profile cases, he demonstrates that the city's official security is lacking. Instead, it is Dupin's undercover genius who holds the peace. The Prefect is still very invested in his own value, and he desperately wants to solve cases not only for the sake of solving them, but also for the sake of maintaining his own reputation. Both The Murders of the Rue Morgue and The Purloined Letter feature him. Characterization of the Narrator who is a sidekick and represents the naïve reader A tourist en route to tropical islands for the sake of discovery. He lives a lonely life, only communicating with his shipmates, which is characteristic of many of Poe's narrators. But when the seas and heavens turn against them, the narrator finds himself alone, stowed away on a strange and monstrous alien vessel whose existence appears dubious. The narrator explains his experiences on this alien ship and attempts in vain to communicate – in the end, the only way he can make his voice known is to place his journal in a bottle and give it to the elements. Detective Methods Charles S. Peirce argued during his career that, in addition to deduction and induction, there is a third form of inference that he called "hypothesis," "retroduction," or "abduction." Peirce described the third mode of inference as "reasoning a posteriori to a hypothesis," or "inference of a cause from its consequence," influenced by Aristotle and Kant. Peirce

observed that the Aristotelian Barbara syllogism can be reversed in two ways: induction is the inference of the main assumption, and presumption is the inference of the minor premise. Peirce proposed the concept of probable arguments with a truth-frequency, in which probability represents the proportion of circumstances in which the statement carries truth from its premises to its conclusion, which was inspired by John Venn. By replacing the main assumption with a statistical generalization "Most Fs are G," Peirce gave probabilistic formulations of the deductive syllogism and its inversions...