Rapid Descent The Purloined Letter
Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Purloined Letter” illustrates the easy descent into the infernal regions. ... The relationship illustrated between D, Dupin, and the crime that occurred are prerequisites of the rapid degeneration of Dupin. ... These men are governed by eccentric ideas and are slowly descending into the infernal regions; which is illustrated through their relationship and the theft of the letter. The royal letter, which is very confidential, gives its holder a certain power in a time and place where “power is immensely valuable. ... When Dupin replaces the “copy-cat” letter, he simply alluded to a revolting episode of revenge between the two brothers, Atreus and Thyestes, in Greek mythology. ... The theft of the letter from Royalty seemed to be a very simple, but odd case to the prefect; this is why he took the case to one of the first of the modern detectives, Dupin, for assistance. ... D’s introspection aided him in the theft of this highly secretive letter from the royal premises. During a visit to D, Dupin surveys his surroundings and finds the letter “dangling by a dirty blue ribbon.” (53) The letter looks nothing like the prefect described it, it was completely opposite.