Analysis Of Edgar Allan Poe s The Imp Of The Perverse

Mariana Falossi Professor O’Brien LTEN 176 November 8 2017 The Imp of the Perverse American writer and critique Edgar Allan Poe is very well known for his gothic tales of mystery, suspense, and horror. While his impressive collection of work carry thrilling themes of fear, death, and tragedy, Poe’s work goes beyond the purpose of literary entertainment and revealing his own inner demons. His writing may be heavily influenced by his own dark and tragic experiences and losses, but it also reveals unique characteristics of the disturbing nature of all people in general. One of these characteristics is explained in his short murderous tale The Imp of the Perverse. This tale explains how a significant part of human nature is driven by†¦show more content†¦Ã¢â‚¬Å"In the consideration of the faculties and impulses -- of the prima mobilia of the human soul, the phrenologists have failed to make room for a propensity which, although obviously existing as a radical, primitive, irreducible sentiment, has been equally overlooked by all the moralists who have preceded them† (____) The narrator explains how this is a failure which leaves room for error, and believes that root of impulsive behavior leading people to experience perversion for example is prima mobilia, which is in fact a part of the soul. He defines perversion as the impulse of doing something counterintuitive to to self help. Overall the idea of acting on impulse was not being studied and ignored. The narrator feels strongly that people should study and understand all sides of man, and especially the perverse side. He believes that the way men live should be based on nature rather than how they â€Å"should be living.† This is not to say that men should commit murder, rather simply understand what they are capable of and to explain the natural desire to do so. â€Å"It would have been wiser, it would have been safer, to classify (if classify we must) upon the basis of what man usually or occasionally did, and was always occasionally doin g, rather than upon the basis of what we took it for granted the Deity intended him to do)____) Idealistically people