Shadow – A Parable by Edgar Allan Poe is a masterful literary creation that, although concise, is one of Poe’s most remarkable and mysterious works. This story, coupled with its companion piece, Silence – A Fable, has left an indelible mark on later writers, especially within the literary circles of France. Shadow is the pinnacle of Poe’s early career, marked by refinement and finesse seen less frequently in his other works. The narrative embodies solemnity and elegance, with transitions delicately crafted in Poe’s best prose style. The elements woven into this dark and enigmatic tale are straightforward yet robust, forming a passionate tapestry sustained at a consistent intensity, finally climaxing with the dramatic emergence of the shadow from the room’s black draperies.
The style employed in Shadow resonates with the linguistic attributes found in the King James Bible. It shares similarities with the literary voices of writers like Bulwer and De Quincey, who influenced Poe’s writing of the story Silence. The story also echoes the ancient, bardic narratives like Ossian by Macpherson and Wanderings of Cain by Coleridge. These literary influences suggest Poe’s familiarity with various literary traditions, enhancing the story’s rich and layered foundation.
While easily understandable to the uninitiated reader, the historical setting of Shadow – A Parable is surprisingly accurate. The story unfolds against the backdrop of the fading Greco-Roman civilization in Egypt, where earlier cultures once thrived and eventually disappeared. The setting in Ptolemais, where the Sun fails to cast a shadow at noon during the summer solstice, mirrors the pervasive absence of shadows — a fitting background for the ever-present symbol of Death, the all-encompassing Shadow.
The characters’ names bear significance: Oinos, denoting One, and Zoilus, associated with zoë, meaning life. The symbolism within their names intertwines with the broader thematic undercurrents of the narrative. The tale itself can be likened to an intricately woven tapestry, with various sources and inspirations that Poe drew upon — a detailed exploration discussed in the notes below.
While not definitively established as one of the original eleven tales Poe mentioned in May 1833, the kinship between the short novels Shadow and Silence strongly suggests their close association. This placement indicates that Shadow – A Parable was a precursor to Silence, culminating in Poe’s manuscript volume. The story’s cryptic depth, historical accuracy, and literary influences make it a seminal work in Poe’s repertoire, contributing significantly to the broader legacy of Gothic and macabre literature.
Edgar Allan Poe, a master of macabre literature, delved into a haunting exploration of the human psyche in his enigmatic short story, Shadow – A Parable. This literary enigma surfaces as a profound meditation on death’s invincibility, entwined within thematic threads of denial, libertine seclusion, and the encompassing dominion of the reaper. Before the iconic The Masque of the Red Death, Poe was already brewing the seeds of themes that would echo through his literary journey, creating a nearly Homeric contemplation of mortality’s inevitability.
Set in the ancient Mediterranean, the story is recounted by Oinos (the Greek word for wine) in a year inundated with ominous signs and terror, particularly a virulent plague that grips the city of Ptolemais. Here, seven individuals, shrouded in gloom and heaviness, barricade themselves within the walls of a great hall, waiting for the ominous embrace of death. Though illuminated by the seven lamps casting a pale light on a round ebony table, the atmosphere remains dark, oppressive, and seemingly shadowy, enforcing a grim contrast against the plague-ravaged world outside.
A pervasive sense of unease lingers despite the gathering’s attempt to mask their dread with hysterical laughter and friendliness. This unease finds roots in the tragic demise of the eighth member, young Zoilus, whose death they mourn while his shrouded figure seemingly sneers at their feigned merriment, contributing to the sad undertone of the gathering.
However, the crescendo of unsettling discovery emerges when a ninth entity, something indescribably shadowy, slips from behind the veils and prowls among them. This mysterious presence, neither human nor divine, casts an ominous presence over the entire gathering, blocking their escape and emanating from Zoilus’ position, seemingly connected to his lifeless body against the door. As it reveals its origin and dwelling, the seven men confront a chilling reality – the words uttered were not of a single voice. Still, they resonated with the cadences of countless departed souls.
Shadow parable by Edgar Allan Poe concludes with a haunting acknowledgment of the all-encompassing Shadow, shattering the veil of denial these men clung to. This relentless specter, reminiscent of the goblins in M.R. James’s tales, embodies an overwhelming and merciless force akin to Samael, the Angel of Death in Jewish lore. Unlike the conventional portrayal of deathly beings, the Shadow presents itself as a shapeless, expanding force that absorbs the identities of those it ensnares, mercilessly echoing the voices of the tormented departed, rendering a haunting experience for the listeners.
Ultimately, Shadow – A Parable ventures far beyond conventional horror, rendering an intricate narrative that forcibly challenges the prevailing human tendency to deny the inescapable grasp of mortality. The tale stands as a stark reminder of the indomitable force of death, personified in a faceless, formless entity that speaks effortlessly for itself in the voices of countless departed souls, an enduring testament to Poe’s ability to craft hauntingly layered narratives that linger far beyond the reading experience.
