The Man Who Was Poe

The foul weather of a Providence winter is a motif present throughout the novel. The unrelenting wind and rain create an uninviting, dismal setting, and the way the elements are characterized heightens the sense of omnipresent danger. The dense fog shrouds the streets of Providence, making it hard for characters to see what is right in front of them; the fog serves as a metaphor for the mystery itself and the uncertainty with which Edmund and Dupin face the plot’s confounding events. When Edmund approaches Sunrise at the docks, the mist finally lifts, signifying that he is close to solving the mystery. As the plot reaches its climax, the weather becomes more tumultuous; the fierce storm represents the fierce chase after the villains. The metonymy of harsh weather is a classic element of Gothic stories. 

Both Edmund and Dupin/Poe believe they see ghosts at various times, adding to the mysterious and suspenseful mood. Edmund, though he is a young child, is quick to dismiss the notion and reminds himself what Aunty Pru would say: “Edmund! There are no such things as ghosts” (102). Dupin, on the other hand, is absolutely shaken when he believes he has seen Pru’s ghost at the inquest and at the mausoleum.