Poe and Melville

Paper Summary:

This paper compares and contrasts the works of the authors Edgar Allan Poe and Herman Melville. It is shown how their work is similar in that both write about characters reaching the end of their self-control in the face of forces greater than themselves, and both authors use psychological insight to develop those characters. Differences include their descriptive methods and that Poe writes about subject matter considered more macabre, while Melville writes about spiritual failures and conflicts with a more profound sense of the spiritual strengths of the universe. The author compares their styles and work, by looking at Poe's short story "The Tell-Tale Heart" and Melville's short story "Billy Budd."

From the Paper:

""The Tell-Tale Heart" is a first-person narrative, while "Billy Budd" is a third-person narrative in the omniscient voice of the author. The narrator of "The Tell-Tale Heart" commits a murder, and while it is evident that this event takes place in the real world, it is not clear whether the beating heart he hears after this is a supernatural phenomenon or a manifestation of guilt taking place only in his mind. The narrator speaks directly to the reader in this story and explains his actions after the fact, and he begins by trying to put the reader's mind at rest about his sanity. The man says he is not insane, though there is no reason to take his word for this matter one way or the other. Indeed, the very manner in which the man declares his sanity raises questions about it:"

More papers on Poe and Melville:

• Analytical Essay # 136410 : "Poe's 'Purloined Letter' and Melville's 'Bartleby the Scrivener'"
• Book Review # 101833 : "Symbolism and American Literature"
• Research Paper # 99082 : "Poe's Philosophy"

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