tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21240636.post5693058145153134690..comments2024-03-21T17:13:34.747-07:00Comments on On the Contrary: Anniversary of the death of PoeMichael Hoffmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09485741729327325322noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21240636.post-18152271057899166112015-10-08T10:43:49.001-07:002015-10-08T10:43:49.001-07:00I recall encountering this thought-provoking essay...I recall encountering this thought-provoking essay, which is well worth reading, in 1971 in the little magazine, Poe Studies.<br /><br />I’m not sure that Poe’s “Gold Bug” can sustain the load of symbolism that the magazine author projects on to it, however. Poe truly despised occultism and poked sarcastic (and lethal) fun at it in The Cask of Amontillado when his protagonist Montessori, waves the trowel with which he will forever wall-up his masonic nemesis Fortunato, as a pun on masonry.<br /><br />But then again, as an experiment or literary prank, I would not put it past Poe to have invested the Gold Bug with sub-rosa symbolism, though not necessarily to the extent posited in Poe Studies.<br /><br />The Gold Bug is of course controversial today primarily for its depiction of the black man, Jupiter.<br /><br />Poe did not believe in democracy and regrettably, like Charles Dickens, had a dim view of the capacities and prospects for the black race.Michael Hoffmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09485741729327325322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21240636.post-47006331519992050612015-10-08T06:21:52.455-07:002015-10-08T06:21:52.455-07:00What do you think of Poe's alchemical tale &qu...What do you think of Poe's alchemical tale "The Gold Bug"? I refer you and others here for analysis:<br /><br />http://www.eapoe.org/pstudies/ps1970/p1971101.htm<br /><br />This article was published in "Poe Studies" in June of 1971. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09540203702831004628noreply@blogger.com