E.A. Poe's Attitude Towards Sensationalism in How to Write a Blackwood Article - Book Report/Review Example

? E.A. Poe's Attitude towards Sensationalism in "How to Write a Blackwood Article" William Blackwood started Blackwood magazine in 1817, which was famous for the sensationalism of its stories. The focus of these stories was on the mental sensations of the characters involved and on the attitude of authors towards these characters. All stories of the Blackwood magazine were published under the supervision of Poe; sensationalism was given prime importance and the magazine gained a lot of readership due to the sensationalized literary work. Poe’s sensationalized tales had great importance because it had a lot of fictional work with terror, comic and sensationalism. At the same time, other competitors of the magazines were also publishing sensationalized stories that gave significance to Poe’s literary work on sensationalism (Hayes, The Cambridge Companion, 96). The image of Edger Allen Poe in the minds of readers is of murderer and a mad man, and his work has been printed since 1827. His literary work includes “Short tale stories, poems, a novel, a textbook, a book of scientific theory, and hundreds of book reviews and essays” (Hogle 25). Edgar Allan Poe's sensational literature is filled by his thoughts of sensationalism in his short stories of contemporary literature. Sensationalizing a character or figure by exaggerating its appearances and performances to make up stories for gaining public attention is sensationalism. Its basic aim is to attain readership and cover headlines of magazines and newspapers by following the lifestyles of celebrities and public figures (Law 3-5). The concept of sensationalism begins in the stories at the start of the 18th century, when editors of magazine started to publish stories related to sensational characters. In these stories, the authors wanted to shock readers by sensation and disbelief and the purpose of sensationalism was to make the readers feel horrified, feared, sexually excited and creating suspense for them. Poe’s literary work on sensationalism was a reflection of his feared, mentally tortured and instable thoughts that resulted in masterpieces of sensational stories and tales that were hot cake for publishers. These sensations gained popularity amongst the readers, because big cities started to emerge at that time, and industrialization was emerging very rapidly. People, especially women, wanted to escape from the everyday routine, therefore, these sensational stories provided a relief for them (Law 3-5). In the beginning of story “How to Write a Blackwood Article,” character Signora Zenobia is sensationalized and described by the writer Edger Allen Poe in different style of thoughts and ideas in his fictional world. The character of Psyche Zenobia is a reflection of Poe’s negative side of his mind and pessimistic thoughts. At the beginning of the story, Zenobia introduces herself as a Suky snob, and she specifically pointed out her enemies who called her a snob, which is the most conscious character and known as Suky which is a rude version in minds of her enemies (Hayes, The Cambridge Companion, 96). “My dear madam,” said he, evidently struck with my majestic appearance, for I had on the crimson satin, with the green agraffas, and orange-coloredauriculas. “My dear madam,” said he, “sit down. The matter stands thus: In the first place, your writer of intensities must have very black ink, and a very big pen, with a very blunt nib. And, mark me, Miss Psyche Zenobia!” he continued, after a pause, with the most impressive energy and solemnity of manner, “mark me! — that pen — must — never be mended! Herein, madam, lies the secret, the soul, of intensity (Poe 233). The writer sensationalizes Zenobia’s character by adapting the interesting terms that create sensation to his narrative story. Whereas factual perspective of her name Psyche means “Butterfly,” which she refers to a dress that was a multi color satin, with an Arabian mantle over it. As her name and appearance showed that she was Queen Zenobia and she was daughter of a Greek, therefore, she was not a snob. Patronymic Zenobia’s Psyche is introduced in a better style to the fictitious culture in which she takes advice from Mr. Blackwood that how she can make up in a mood of Blackwood. Poe creates sensationalism in his story with Zenobia’s character by revealing her real appearance and negative set of mind for the character that is completely negative in the story. So in this initiative part of story, Mr. Blackwood tells her importance of sensational attitudes, in which he tells her to make a note of sensations like if she would ever drown or be hanged. Zenobia understood the subject of sensation deeply and analyzed it like baking in an oven, and then choking to death through a bone of chicken. She realized that sensational approach of a story could be easier for her to make a lot of money by her status in fictional writing (Hayes, The Cambridge Companion, 96). Blackwood became profitable by a sky-scraping subject of sensation and the story with sensationalism is full of flavor and at the same time, full of fear as well. For putting up the magazine for sale, Poe reveals snobbery to sensationalize the story and he used the word Snob to symbolize the model of Blackwood as a product for the readers and the market (Hayes, The Cambridge Companion, 97). “It may appear invidious in me, Miss Psyche Zenobia, to refer you to any article, or set of articles, in the way of model or study; yet perhaps I may as well call your attention to a few cases. Let me see. There was ‘The Dead Alive,’ a capital thing! — the record of a gentleman’s sensations when entombed before the breath was out of his body — full of tact, taste, terror, sentiment, metaphysics, and erudition. You would have sworn that the writer had been born and brought up in a coffin. Then we had the ‘Confessions of an Opium-eater’ — fine, very fine! — glorious imagination — deep philosophy — acute ­speculation — plenty of fire and fury, and a good spicing of the decidedly unintelligible” (Poe 234) Poe is portraying sensationalism by making conservation with Zenobia and telling her that he is not feeling comfortable in referring to Zenobia in any article. The author has used many pessimistic words that can be related to sensationalism such as sophistication, fear, sentiment, horror, and metaphysics all at the same time. Poe is relating sensationalism with a person saying that sensation remains in the person’s body until he is alive that shows negative side of his mind. Poe’s is talking about himself with Zenobia that she must be sure that Poe is not a normal man. Sensation is related to humor as he is appraising Zenobia by recognizing her deep thoughts and first appreciating her philosophy and then relating this philosophy with no sense. Poe’s has tried to explain in the article that crime cannot always relate to terror and it is persistent theme, which can be related to death or the life after the death (Rzepka and Horsley 22). Poe was a best friend of Lippard, with whom he mutually showed interest in terror and horrified, sickly psychology with rationalist’s observation on witticism and a plot construction that is carefully done. He is usually recognized as the author of the contemporary stories on detectives, and he is known to be the leader in the fictional science. He was the first great theoretician and critic in literature and his recognition is mostly due to short story tales on sensationalism, which are full of horror and fear, and poetry that has unforgettable lyrics (Hogle 26). This sensational story tale became a fictitious asset for the writer that is served by position and status. Poe creates sensationalism in the story “How to Write a Blackwood Article” by the guess of playoffs that are surrounded by the writer’s sense through declaration of guilt by DeQuincy. Edger Allen Poe describes the ethnic relation between monkeys and blackness by representing the word “baboon”. The author used this word to symbolize the writer’s slavery in the nineteenth century. Writer is a slave to publisher and depends on the requirements of fictional market. Demonstrating the writer to an intoxicating monkey and fictionalizing the tales full of taste and terror are portrayed easily in the minds of public (Hayes, The Cambridge Companion, 97). Edger Allen Poe has made use of some of his masterpieces in the context of both comic and serious roles in the narration of short story tales. Signora Psyche Zenobia’s role in the story “How to Write a Blackwood Article” is stupid and her story is very strange, while few terrible components are distinctive features of British magazines. Psyche Zenobia’s character attains her traditional education from the article of Gaylord Clark’s magazines, and takes the name of a very old female known for good looks instead of her bravery (Mabbott 334). The Blackwood Magazine gained a great success in Britain by printing its sensationalizing stories, which had gained a lot of public attention. The magazines and articles full of sensational material are flavored and dished out easily in the marketplace. The material “How to write a Blackwood Article” becomes visible and reduces the confusion of style of Blackwood. The other sensational part of the story is its comedy that arises from its aware changes of fiction market meetings, specifically alteration of ridiculous and profitable market into sophisticated and cultured one (Hayes, The Cambridge Companion, 97). Poe sensationalizes the comic part of his story by the character of Dr. Moneypenny who is Zenobia’s supporter for fictional stories and even a consultant for the marketplace. “No profundity, no reading, no metaphysics — nothing which the learned call spirituality, and which the unlearned choose to stigmatize as cant. [Dr. M. says I ought to spell “cant” with a capital K — but I know better.]” (Poe 232). Dr. Moneypenny’s character creates sensation and comic effect in Poe’s story by his good sense of humor; he performs a comic role, as well as a serious man as the other side of his character. Zenobia says she could hear Dr. Moneypenny spell “cant with a capital K” and at the same time he can raise his fashion style and reveals the irrationality of confusions throughout the tale. This plot creates sensationalism in “How to Write a Blackwood Article” in which Zenobia fails to understand such behavior of Dr. Moneypenny (Wood 54). In this story, Zenobia became an ideal presenter for Edger Allen Poe’s intentions and sensationalism. Zenobia’s sensational character discloses the misuse of the marketplace that is disguised by the style of Blackwood. Suky Snob Zenobia unintentionally explains the philosophical principles that two men in this story Mr. Blackwood and Dr. Moneypenny would bring book lovers into the market. Poe’s exposure to his own skills and performances towards the market is displayed by his sensational masterpiece in the magazine. Poe shows the traditional values of sensationalism in his writing through sensational tales and stories that reveal his mastery in the narration of short story tales in marketplace (Wood 55). The attitude of Poe towards sensationalism in the story was double sided as he is not able to distinguish the relationship with Britain and many assumptions can be made regarding the supremacy of Britain in his tale. Giles has describe the capability of Poe for making a difference in the conventions of Britain and independence of the US, which can be given as an evidence in Poe’s story (Hayes, Edgar Allan Poe in Context, 12). “Here is something better. ‘The Persian Iris appears to some persons to possess a sweet and very powerful perfume, while to others it is perfectly scentless.’ Fine that, and very delicate! Turn it about a little, and it will do wonders. We’ll have something else in the botanical line. There’s nothing goes down so well, especially with the help of a little Latin. Write!” (Poe 237). The time when short story tales were just in course of being imaginary, Poe was recognized far more than any writer who has created and defined the kind of writing he had started. Poe’s tales and stories were usually known for their supremacy and creativity, full of his Gothic sensationalism. Some public reviews about Poe’s tales reflect the author’s mind that gives an impression of a tortured mind. “In this excursion I was attended by one negro-servant Pompey, and my little lap-dog Diana, whom I had brought with me from Philadelphia. It was not, however, until late in the afternoon that I fully succeeded in my arduous undertaking. An important event then happened of which the following Blackwood article, in the tone heterogeneous, is the substance and result” (Poe 240). Zenobia narrates her sensationalism in the story by descending from rise by observing one of the character “Pompey” flee in terror and another Character Diana who is eaten by a rat. This story tale works on different levels in the minds of readers, such as an evaluation of general wisdom or of confidence while time cut Zenobia’s inspirational practice and as a parody of second scene of the tale. The stature of the character Pompey performs to unveil conversations of sensational characters in the tale depending on slavery for its horrifying consequences that are acted by the performers. The sensationalism of ethnic figures sets up the production in the marketplace. To have a way in the marketplace, Zenobia has to rest upon the shoulders of character “Pompey” to sensationalize her practice her tale of story (Poe 240). Zenobia’s story relies on the conventional characters because Poe has given the dramatized effects to the characters. Poe’s sensationalism gives signals to the vital part of competition and slavery performances in fictional discussions by emphasizing the “figure of blackness” in his tales (Mabbott 68). The interpretation of Poe’s sensational tales is of great public importance and signs of social suggestions in tales are fixed to slavery that rests in the heart of the writer’s sensationalism. Poe’s sensational tales safely remain apart from the materialistic realities that create sensationalism in his tales. Edger Allen Poe symbolizes shock and fear of sensationalism in the “Image of blackness”. Poe’s sensationalism is uncovered by a predicament and his sensational stories are just not metaphysical but publically aware through slavery that is found in a black body. The methods of writer’s sensationalism seem to be bounded with blackness and are well informed with the investment in marketplace (Mabbott 69). Poe’s work shows the aesthetical sensationalism and he exposes himself as convincing analyst of the literary market. Poe’s work on sensationalism is not completed without the labels and sensational images from slavery that makes the most of his capital for his literary work. His masterpieces depend completely on the tales because of their sensationalism and their effects on public. Poe would end up his literary capital as Zenobia does in “How to Write a Blackwood Article”, by destroying herself and being bankrupt. Edger Allen Poe’s real perspective on his fictional writing was full of sensationalism and it can be concluded from the sarcastic treatment that was given to Mr. Blackwood’s concern in his story “How to write a Blackwood Article” in the framework of judgments (Hayes, The Cambridge Companion, 97). The story “How to write a Blackwood Article” was considered an outrageous story as there is no proper sense in the story but due to Poe’s own methods used in the story, the interest is created for the readers. Poe’s attitude towards sensationalism in the story is high as he used both humor and serious writing in describing sensationalism. There are certain sensationalized components in the story that can be consider as abhorrent because these components are portraying other magazines of Britain (Mabbott 335-336). Works Cited Hayes, Kevin. Edgar Allan Poe in Context. London: Cambridge University Press, 2010. Print. —. The Cambridge Companion to Edgar Allan Poe. London: Cambridge University Press, 2002. Print. Hogle, Jerrolde E. The Cambridge Campanion to Gothic Fiction. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2002. Print. Law, Graham. Serializing Fiction in the Victorian Press. London: Palgrave, 2000. Print. Mabbott, Thomas. Collected Works of Edgar Allan Poe. London, 1978. Print. Poe, Edgar. "How to Write a Blackwood Article." Broadway Journal 12 July 1845: 230-240. Print. Rzepka, Charles and Lee Horsley. A Companion to Crime Fiction. Sussex: John Wiley & Sons, 2010. Print. Wood, Krutch. Edgar Allan Poe: A Study in Genius. New York: Penguin, 1923. Print. Read More