Murders in the Rue Morgue by Edgar Allen Poe

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Recommended: Edgar Allan Poe as an early exponent of detective fiction in America

“The Murders in the Rue Morgue” is a classic mystery by Edgar Allen Poe that inspired many later authors in the mystery genre to follow its example. The reason this short story left such an impression on people is most likely because of how it was published. There are many different techniques the publishers used in order to draw attention to the tale, such as the paratexts and the surrounding poems. Some of this work is unintentional, but still enhances new readers’ experiences. These techniques clearly set a tone that the reader will have coming into and throughout the story. All of the publisher’s work seems to mirror what Poe is doing in his own story. The layout and content of “The Murders in the Rue Morgue” defy new readers’ expectations and doesn’t let them be comfortable in the narrative pace, all of which parallels the mystery Poe is telling. One major factor to consider in the analysis of “The Murders in the Rue Morgue” and the rest of the magazine it is published in is the paratext. Paratext is everything in a work not included in the actual story, such as a title page or a table of contents. The title page of this magazine gives us the title: Graham’s Magazine. This comes from George Graham, whose name is also on the title page. This gives the impression that Graham is a recognized name at the time this magazine was published and people would buy the magazine just for that. There are no drawing on the title page and the only mention that this magazine has engravings is a small fragment that advertises engravings, fashions, and music. This sets this magazine apart from other publications at this time. Many had large engravings that drew the readers’ attention. The title page also make this clear that this magazine is ... ... middle of paper ... ...e magazine is not a publication for people who just want to look at pictures. The surrounding texts put people in the proper mind frame for reading, which in the case of a mystery is defying their expectations. The small text in long columns makes readers brains work more than they should, all for the payoff of having a monkey be a killer. Edgar Allen Poe and the publishers of the magazine knew what they were doing when they made “The Murders in the Rue Morgue” defy readers’ expectations and not let readers get too comfortable while reading. The result is a classic mystery that left an impression on people. Works Cited Irvine, Alex A. “An April Day.” Graham’s Magazine Jan. 1841: 179. Print. Poe, Edgar Allen. “The Murders in the Rue Morgue.” Graham’s Magazine Jan. 1841: 166-179. Print. Thomson, Charles West. “Comparisons.” Graham’s Magazine Jan. 1841: 165. Print.

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