Edgar Allan Poe Legacy
Coining the epithet “Father of the Detective Story,” there is no doubt that Edgar Allan Poe’s legacy was embodied in the development of succeeding styles of detective fiction, and this genre owes its recognition to his significant contributions that are still identified in modern literature. The invention of Poe’s mastermind amateur sleuth, C. Auguste Dupin, as well as his unique detective fiction formula, paved the way for the evolution of the genre. His powerful influence can be recognized, specifically, in the texts of well known detective fiction writers, like Arthur Conan Doyle. Many people speculate that Doyle directly imitated Poe’s detective fiction formulaic structure and detective hero. However, while Doyle did conform to Poe’s original
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model, he primarily transformed and reinvented the detective fiction model as well as the traits of the “ideal” detective with his incomparable creation of Sherlock Homes.
Edgar Allan Poe, referred to as “a model for all time,” by Arthur Conan Doyle, is credited with inventing the detective fiction genre, as well as establishing a blueprint for all detective fiction writers to follow (Oswego Writing Institute).
One of his significant contributions towards the development of the genre includes generating the foundation of characteristics for the “ideal detective” with his eccentric and talented sleuth, C. Auguste Dupin. These fundamental traits include a brilliant amateur sleuth who uses his exceptional powers of observation and deduction to solve crimes. His unmatched investigative skills often prompted him to have very little confidence in the Parisian police’s abilities to solve crimes of his standard. However, this allowed Dupin, “a man to whom observation had become a species of necessity,” to flaunt his superior logic and ratiocination. (Orel 395). With his superior intellect, comes complexity. The reader often gets a glimpse of Dupin’s double identity; Dupin is both avidly imaginative and unemotionally analytical. This double identity often prevents him from being able to communicate with others in an ordinary way. Essentially, Poe’s amateur detective is an “outsider existing spiritually and intellectually beyond the conventions of ordinary humanity,” meaning, he survives outside of the social order’s expectations and tends to alienate himself from society (Bennett 264). Although Poe secured the patent for the detective fiction sleuth, it was ultimately Arthur Conan Doyle who can be given credit for solidifying the foundation that Poe
created.
model, he primarily transformed and reinvented the detective fiction model as well as the traits of the “ideal” detective with his incomparable creation of Sherlock Homes.
Edgar Allan Poe, referred to as “a model for all time,” by Arthur Conan Doyle, is credited with inventing the detective fiction genre, as well as establishing a blueprint for all detective fiction writers to follow (Oswego Writing Institute).
One of his significant contributions towards the development of the genre includes generating the foundation of characteristics for the “ideal detective” with his eccentric and talented sleuth, C. Auguste Dupin. These fundamental traits include a brilliant amateur sleuth who uses his exceptional powers of observation and deduction to solve crimes. His unmatched investigative skills often prompted him to have very little confidence in the Parisian police’s abilities to solve crimes of his standard. However, this allowed Dupin, “a man to whom observation had become a species of necessity,” to flaunt his superior logic and ratiocination. (Orel 395). With his superior intellect, comes complexity. The reader often gets a glimpse of Dupin’s double identity; Dupin is both avidly imaginative and unemotionally analytical. This double identity often prevents him from being able to communicate with others in an ordinary way. Essentially, Poe’s amateur detective is an “outsider existing spiritually and intellectually beyond the conventions of ordinary humanity,” meaning, he survives outside of the social order’s expectations and tends to alienate himself from society (Bennett 264). Although Poe secured the patent for the detective fiction sleuth, it was ultimately Arthur Conan Doyle who can be given credit for solidifying the foundation that Poe
created.