The Murders In The Rue Morgue by Edgar Allan Poe

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What makes a short story great? Great characters? A great plot? Whatever it is, it does not have as much time to develop as a novel does. However, in limited space, author Edgar Allan Poe creates a brilliant, suspenseful, and brain wracking story. "The Murders in the Rue Morgue" begins by comparing the analytical mind to the game of chess. Eventually, Poe ties in the occurrences of a bizarre incident with a flashback to 18--. Through analyzing the scene and using clues and witnesses' testimonies, a character of great analytical power solves a murder mystery that no one else can even remotely get a grasp on. The story may sound ordinary at first, but upon the completion of the novel, a doubtful reader can change his mind. Edgar Allan Poe's utilization of different literary and writing techniques and his unique development of the story allow readers to indulge in "The Murders in the Rue Morgue".

The story is set in first person where an unnamed narrator serves as a character that exists for the sole reason of illustrating the abilities of Dupin's mind. Monsieur C. Auguste Dupin is the main problem solver of the story, a gentleman from an aristocratic family but is reduced to poverty. As the narrator tells the story, certain thought processes are kept from the reader until L'Auguste Dupin reveals the facts. The reader only sees and knows the facts the investigators and narrators do. In doing so, the story is more suspenseful of the reader, and the conclusion takes the reader by surprise.

The narration is broken up into paragraphs of various lengths, all of which contain long and detailed sentences. E...

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... other perhaps was brought outside and murdered. However, Dupin came upon the conclusion that no men could possibly contain the agility and strength to perform the crimes as witnessed. He concluded that an Ourang Outang had escaped and killed the women.

The most entertaining part of the story was that Dupin's crazy deduction was accurate and correct. The French sailor had been the owner of an Ourang Outang that had hurled the older woman out a window, and the daughter up a chimney. Poe's new writing style at the time allowed readers to view mystery stories from a different perspective, that of the detective. His writing techniques and story plot make "The Murders in the Rue Morgue" an enjoyable and worthwhile piece of work.

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