44 pages • 1 hour read
AviThe Man Who Was Poe
Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 1989A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Symbols & Motifs
Weather
The foul weather of a Providence winter is a motif present throughout the novel. The unrelenting wind and rain create an uninviting, dismal setting, and the way the elements are characterized heightens the sense of omnipresent danger. The dense fog shrouds the streets of Providence, making it hard for characters to see what is right in front of them; the fog serves as a metaphor for the mystery itself and the uncertainty with which Edmund and Dupin face the plot’s confounding events. When Edmund approaches Sunrise at the docks, the mist finally lifts, signifying that he is close to solving the mystery. As the plot reaches its climax, the weather becomes more tumultuous; the fierce storm represents the fierce chase after the villains. The metonymy of harsh weather is a classic element of Gothic stories.
Ghosts
Both Edmund and Dupin/Poe believe they see ghosts at various times, adding to the mysterious and suspenseful mood. Edmund, though he is a young child, is quick to dismiss the notion and reminds himself what Aunty Pru would say: “Edmund! There are no such things as ghosts” (102). Dupin, on the other hand, is absolutely shaken when he believes he has seen Pru’s ghost at the inquest and at the mausoleum. His obsession with death in conjunction with his alcoholism, suggests these are genuine hallucinations. However, upon learning that Pru and her sister are twins, Dupin realizes that he must have seen the other sister wandering town, another crucial piece to the mystery. Ghosts, and the supernatural in general, are another identifiable element of Gothic writing.
Sis’s Buttons
Inspired by the fairytale Hansel and Gretel, Sis purposefully leaves behind a button from her shoes in the various places Rachett and Peterson take her, including the room in the building adjacent to Edmund’s, the bank vault, and the mausoleum. The buttons symbolize Sis’s resourcefulness, and for Edmund, they serve as a symbol of hope that she is still alive. For Dupin, the buttons are a critical clue in helping him solve the mystery. Without this trail of “breadcrumbs,” Sis may have never been found.
Rachett’s Coded Message
When Rachett decides he needs to flee town, he writes the following message on a scrap of paper intended for Peterson: “988; 98 5; ;48 4‡ ;80 6 45¶8 9‡¶ 8 36(O 5* 3‡ O 9?); 085¶ 8 )?*(6)8 5; )6# 59” (70). When Edmund finds it, he cannot make sense of the “odd writing,” but Poe later decodes it when he realizes it is the same code he used in his story “The Gold Bug.” The story’s protagonist deciphers a cryptogram and sets off to find secret treasure with the help of two partners, which parallels Poe, Edmund, and Throck’s attempt to catch the murderous thieves. Rachett and Peterson are vocal fans of Poe’s work, but ironically they do not realize that he is helping Edmund find his family members. Though Dupin/Poe is able to read the hidden message—“I have moved girl and gold. Must leave. Sunrise at six A.M.” (150)—it is Edmund who realizes Sunrise refers to a boat, which is instrumental in helping Throck, Poe, and Edmund stop the villains from escaping.
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