Murders and Awe

After thinking back to the novels, short stories, poems, and other forms of literature that have focused on the idea of awe, the short story "The Murders in Rue Morgue", written by Edgar Allan Poe, stood out.  Poe introduced us to one of the first detective novels paving the way for detectives like Mrs. Marple and Sherlock Holmes.  There are so many different aspects in Poe's short story that revolves around the idea of awe.  This story focuses on terror, the unknown, and the powers of analysis within the human mind.  Dupin, who eventually solves the crime, is able to disconnect from his emotions in order to solve the mysterious case regarding the death of Mademoiselle Camille and Madame L’Espanaye.  The murder in itself creates awe and terror as he sets up the crime, which leads to citizens questioning how this murder could have possibly happened.  Poe writes,

"...This morning, about three o'clock, the inhabitants of the Quartier St. Roch were aroused from sleep by a succession of terrific shrieks, issuing apparently, from the fourth story of a house in the Rue Morgue, known to be in the sole occupancy of Madame L'Espanaye, and her daughter, Mademoiselle Camille L'Espanaye.  After some delay, occasioned by a fruitless attempt to procure admission in the usual manner, the gateway was broken in with a crowbar, and eight or ten of the neighbors entered, accompanied by two gendarmes.  By this time the cries had ceased; but, as the party rushed up the first flight of stairs, two or more rough voices, in angry contention, were distinguished, and seemed to proceed from the upper part of the house.  As the second landing was reached, these sounds, also, had ceased, and everything remained perfectly quiet.  The party spread themselves, and hurried from room to room.  Upon arriving at a large back chamber in the fourth story, (the door of which, being found locked, with the key inside, was forced open,) a spectacle presented itself which struck every one present not the less with horror than with astonishment." ( I added italics to emphasize the moments of awe.)

Everything about this scene creates terror and astonishment; the cries, the time frame, the delays, and improbability of the situation creates this sense of horror and spectacle like the text states.  Throughout the whole story the reader is given bits and pieces of information that create awe and wonder.  Who could the murderer be?  While they had arrested Adolphe Le Bon and felt a conclusion had been made, Dupin, who had once been helped by Le Bon, felt a desire to delve deeper into the mysteries surrounding the case.  After carefully analyzing the situation, and picking up on small, yet crucial evidence that the police didn't recognize, Dupin finds out that the murderer was an Orangutan who had escaped from his master's ship.

The unknown creates feelings of awe, astonishment, and terror, as we feel helpless and servants to our surroundings.  Not only can we find awe in these elements, but also recognizing the analytic powers of our human minds showcases the power of awe.  Like Erin, from class, has stated, terror is a characteristic of awe that has as powerful an affect as the sublime in awe.