The Politics of Poe :: Essays Papers

The Politics of PoeEdgar Allen Poe is known as the pioneer of the American short story, as well as a brilliant workman in poetry. His works be often tragic, or have a dark theme. Two often overlooked facets of Poe as a writer, however, are the political aspect of his works, and how far ahead he was of his time, with some worldly being applicable to present day situations, as exemplified by praise to Science, The City in the ocean, and The Masque of the Red Death.The City in the Sea says of a great city, with shrines and palaces and towers which resemble nonhing that is ours (6-8). This may be a representation of metropolises at the time, for instance Philadelphia or New York City, or much likely Balti more than, where he lived at the time the poem was originally published, 1831. The exposition given of the city, with the favourable and the bad and the worst and the best(4) and Up domesup spiresup kingly halls(17) along with multiple descriptions of a dismal tune and the sea, are reminiscent of present day Manhattan Island, or Seattle. A rehearsal of doom state of warns of Hell, rising from a thousand thrones/ Shall do it reverence.(52-53) for the city. This is how many batch today feel about New York City, Los Angeles, and other megalopolises. This could be a warning to the nineteenth century cities. The proverbial calm before the violent storm is vividly, yet tragically depicted when no ripples curl, alas(36), No swellings tell of winds may be/ on seas less hideously serene.(38-40). But lo, a stir is in the air/ The wavethere is a run there(42-43). The storm has hit The repeated use of exclamation attach in an otherwise relatively serenely punctuated poem gives an even more dramatic effect to the storm, strengthening the idea of peril. Though the era of good feelings was still prevalent during the time when the poem was first written, the civil war was beginning to brew. A division was beginning to form over the bare of sla very. This calm before the storm, and the storm that hits, as well as the construct up city depicted, sings a premonition of the civil war.The Sonnet-To Science not only tells of the dangers in Poes time, but could easily be apply today.