Analysis Of Hop-Frog By Edgar Allan Poe

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The short story “Hop-Frog” written in 1849 by Edgar Allan Poe tells a tale of revenge. The jester’s fiery revenge against the man who bought and treated him horribly summarizes the dark story. The African American critique is a way to view the story as the oppressed and the oppressor’s relationship within the text. Paul Jones argues that the sympathy that most of the abolitionist writers used to gain supports, but Poe saw through the façade, and that is why he wrote “Hop-Frog” (239-54). Joan Dayan points out in her article that went through the court cases that dealt with race and slavery, and she also that Poe studied these cases (405-24). Frederick Burwick, writes about Poe’s writing style: the grotesque, the picturesque, and the arabesque. …show more content…

The reader connects with the feelings of sorrow and freedom that Hop-Frog feels, yet this was not the full intention for the way Poe wrote the story. Poe felt that with the rise of these abolitionist tales that the writers painted slaves as innocent people that were incapable of being as cruel as their owners. Poe saw through the slave’s tales, and therefore he tricks his own readers into believing Hop-Frog and yanking away that connection. Hop-Frog is fueled with rage due to his treatment, and it seems that after he was forced to drink the wine and he saw Tripetta get abused he needed to get revenge. Hop-Frog acts through his emotions, and he manages to keep calm until he sees the only companion he has get abused. Hop-Frog tricks the men that oppress him into dressing in these flammable orangutan costumes, and during the party he lights them on fire. Hop-Frog not once feels an ounce of regret, but instead he laughs at the fools that he has killed. Tripetta and him run away from the scene and seem to have a happy ending. The reader is shocked by these actions, because Hop-Frog is no longer an innocent slave but a killer without …show more content…

Hop-Frog is a character that appeals to the reader. Tripetta was also seen as an innocent girl that was not the type to help her friend get away with murder, because throughout the story she is able to control her emotions. The two characters change from a lovable couple to two killers, willing to risk everything to gain their freedom. The implication is that this is Poe’s deeper meaning behind the idea that each slave was not as innocent as the abolitionists thought (248). The slaves didn’t just sing songs and smile; instead, Poe thought of them as deceivers with masks that could be used to get what they wanted (247-48). Hop-Frog also was incapable of controlling his emotions. He let the anger bottle up within until he revolted against his King, denying any remorse. He is a character who does not have respect for those that oppress him, but he has respect for Tripetta. Poe felt that slaves were unable to feel regret for their actions, therefore they wouldn’t be able to feel guilt for these abolitionist tales that Poe warned the people

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