The dramatic criticism of Edgar Allan Poe

Item Type text; Thesis-Reproduction (electronic)

Authors Ward, Janice Lea, 1941-

Publisher The University of Arizona.

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TH E DRA M ATIC CRITICISM O F ED G AR A L L A N P O E

by

J a n ic e L ea Ward.

A T h e s is S u b m itted to the F a c u lty o f th e

D E P A R T M E N T O F D R AM A

In P a r t ia l F u lf i l lm e n t of th e R e q u ir e m e n ts F o r th e D e g r e e of

M A ST E R O F A R T S

In th e G radu ate C o lle g e

TH E UNIVERSITY O F A R IZO N A

1 9 6 6

S T A T E M E N T BY A U TH O R

T h is t h e s is h a s b een su b m itte d in p a r t ia l fu lf i l lm e n t of r e q u ir e m e n ts fo r an a d v a n ced d e g r e e a t T he U n iv e r s ity o f A r iz o n a and i s d e p o s ite d in th e U n iv e r s ity L ib r a r y to be m ad e a v a ila b le to b o r r o w e r s under r u le s o f th e L ib r a r y .

B r ie f q u o ta tio n s fro m th is t h e s is a r e a llo w a b le w ith ou t s p e c ia l p e r m is s io n , p r o v id e d th at a c c u r a te a c k n o w led g m en t of so u r c e i s m a d e . . R e q u e s ts for p e r m is s io n fo r ex ten d ed q u ota tion fro m o r r e p r o d u c tio n of th is m a n u sc r ip t in w h o le o r in p a r t m a y be g ra n ted by th e h ea d o f th e m a jo r d ep a r tm en t or the D ean of the G radu ate C o lle g e w h en in h is ju d gm en t the p r o p o se d u se o f th e m a te r ia l i s in the in t e r e s t s o f s c h o la r s h ip . In a l l o th er in s ta n c e s , h o w e v e r , p e r m is s io n m u st be o b ta in ed fr o m th e a u th o r .

A P P R O V A L BY TH ESIS DIR EC TO R

T h is t h e s is h a s b e e n a p p ro v ed on the date sh ow n b elow :

JOHN A . M ILLS A s s o c ia t e P r o f e s s o r of D ra m a

D a te

A C K N O W L E D G M E N T S

I w is h to ex ten d m y a p p r e c ia t io n to D r. John M ills of the

D ra m a D ep a r tm en t fo r th e s u g g e s t io n o f th is to p ic and fo r h is g u id a n ce

and d ir e c t io n d u rin g the. w r it in g of th is t h e s i s .

T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S

P a g e

A B ST R A C T v

C hapter

I, IN TR O D U C TIO N 1

IL • PO E ON PR O D U C T IO N 22

III. . P O E ON DRAM ATIC ST R U C T U R E 34

LIST O F WORKS C O N SU L T E D 76

iv

A B ST R A C T

F r o m 1835 u n til h is d eath in , 1849 E d gar A lla n .P o e w a s

d ep en d en t upon jo u r n a lis m fo r h is l iv e lih o o d . D u rin g th is c a r e e r

he g a in ed a r e p u ta tio n a s a c a u s t ic and " p la in -sp e a k in g " c r it ic ; he

a ls o p r o v e d h im s e lf a p e r c e p t iv e and ta le n te d c r i t ic . . P o e , who w a s

c o n c e r n e d w ith a l l a s p e c t s of A m e r ic a n l i t e r a tu r e and a r t , a t t im e s

tu rn ed h is c r i t ic a l a tte n tio n to th e d ram a o f h is day. ■ Q u a n tita tiv e ly

h is co n tr ib u tio n s to d r a m a tic c r i t ic i s m w e r e lim ite d , but th e r e i s m u ch

of s ig n if ic a n c e and m e r i t in h is w r it in g s on d ra m a .

In h is c o m m e n ts on d r a m a tic c r a ftsm a n sh ip h e co n d em n ed the

u se of in tr ig u e p lo ts and o ffe r e d h is id e a o f th e c o n se q u e n tia l, u n ified

p lo t. He f e l t v e r i s im i l i t u d e sh o u ld b e a g o a l of d ra m a and r e c o g n iz e d

o n ly a co m m o n , e v e r y d a y n a tu ra l p r o b a b ility a s a c r i t e r io n fo r th is .

He o b je c te d to the " stock " c h a r a c te r s w h ich w e r e c o m m o n to c o n

te m p o r a r y p la y s an d d em an d ed that c h a r a c te r s be in d iv id u a l and

b e lie v a b le an d p o r tr a y e d w ith a m o r e n a tu ra l,, r e a l i s t i c s ty le of

a c tin g .

P o e w a s an e a r ly a d v o c a te of th e r e a l i s t ic th e a tr e . W ritin g

at a t im e w hen the d ra m a s e e m e d to be sta g n a tin g in o ld fo r m s he

u rg ed w r it e r s to b r e a k aw ay fr o m tr a d it io n a l c o n v e n tio n s and to b u ild

an o r ig in a l d ra m a .

v

C H A P T E E I

IN TR O D U CTIO N

F r o m th e t im e s h o r t ly b e fo r e h is m a r r ia g e in 1 836 u n til h is

p r e m a tu r e d eath in 1849 , a p e r io d o f a lm o s t fo u r te e n y e a r s , E dgar

A lla n P o e w a s d ep en d en t upon jo u r n a lis m fo r h is liv e lih o o d , - D urin g

th e s e y e a r s he w r o te a s ig n if ic a n t body of l i t e r a r y c r i t ic i s m and th e o r y .

S ch o la r K il l i s C a m p b ell r e c o n s tr u c te d a c o n te m p o r a r y v ie w o f P o e a f te r

an e x te n s iv e stu d y in 192.1 apd in th e r e s u lt in g a r t ic le c o n c lu d ed that

P o e f i r s t a tta in e d p r o m in e n c e a s a c r i t i c and r e v ie w e r and not, a s m ig h t

be e x p e c te d , a s a p o e t or sh o r t s to r y w r i t e r . He p o in ted out that a t th e

t im e T he R a v en w a s f i r s t p u b lish e d in 1845 P o e w a s c o n s id e r e d a r e l a

t iv e ly m in o r p o et, but w id e ly k n o w n .for h is c r i t ic a l co n tr ib u tio n s to

m an y of th e d a y 's p op u lar l i t e r a r y m a g a z in e s .

P o e 's f i r s t c r i t i c a l w r it in g s w e r e p u b lish e d in th e S ou thern

L ite r a r y M e s s e n g e r in 1835= H is s e n s a t io n a l s ty le and in d ep en d en t

p o in t o f v ie w a t tr a c te d w id e a tten tio n and h e w as im m e d ia te ly p la c e d on

s a la r y a s e d ito r o f th e p e r io d ic a l . • P o e r e m a in e d w ith th e M e s s e n g e r

u n til 1837 w hen he r e s ig n e d to d e v o te m o r e t im e to h is l i t e r a r y c a r e e r .

He co n tin u ed to co n tr ib u te to th e m a g a z in e , h o w e v e r .

P o e w a s n ex t a f f i l ia te d w ith the P h ila d e lp h ia p u b lica tio n .

G e n tle m a n 's M a g a z in e , fo r w h ich h e s e r v e d a s a s s o c ia t e e d ito r . In

1841 G e n t le m a n s M a g a z in e w a s bought an d m e r g e d w ith a n o th er p e r i

odical,, P o e b e c a m e ed ito r of the r e s u lt in g l i t e r a r y p u b lic a tio n ,

G r a h a m 's M a g a zin e , but co n tin u ed to n u r tu re a d rea m of p u b lish in g

h is ow n p e r io d ic a l; in 1842 he r e s ig n e d to p u r su e p la n s fo r h is p r o

p o s e d p u b lic a tio n . T he S ty lu s,, W hen th is v e n tu r e fa i le d he re tu r n e d

a s a r e v ie w e r to G r a h a m 's M a g a z in e , He a ls o c o n tr ib u ted to J a m e s

R u s s e l l L o w e ll 's m a g a z in e ,. P io n e e r »

E a r ly in 1845 P o e b e c a m e jo in t e d ito r of th e N ew Y ork p u b l ic a

tio n T h e B ro a d w a y Journal,, L a te r h e b e c a m e s o le ow n er and ed ito r of

th is s h o r t - l iv e d p e r io d ic a l w h ich w en t out of c ir c u la t io n in D e c e m b e r of

the s a m e year*

P o e n ex t a p p ea red a s r e v ie w e r in G o d ey 's L a d y 's B ook fo r

w h ich h e w r o te a s e r i e s Of a r t ic le s e n t it le d th e " L ite r a t i of N ew Y ork , "

He a ls o co n tr ib u te d d u rin g th e la s t y e a r s o f h is c a r e e r to th e W hig

R e v ie w . U n til h is d ea th P o e m a in ta in e d h is h op e of s ta r t in g h is ow n

p u b lica tio n . T he S ty lu s .

A c c o r d in g to C a m p b ell, P o e "w as c h ie f ly know n in h is day and

t im e i u A m e r ic a a s a f e a r l e s s and c a u s t ic and not a lw a y s im p a r t ia l

c r i t ic r a th e r th an a ju s t and d is c r im in a t in g c r i t ic . P o e e a rn ed th e

t i t l e of "the T om ah aw k M an" w ith h is u n r e s tr a in e d and s o m e t im e s

v ic io u s a tta c k s on w hat he c o n s id e r e d th e l i t e r a r y e v i l s o f h is day.

.^•Killis C a m p b ell, "A C o n te m p o r a ry V iew of P o e , " P M L A , X X X V I ( J a n . , 1921), 161 .

E v en h is a d m ir e r s co u ld not ig n o r e the v e n o m o u s q u a lity of h is c r i t i

c ism * J a m e s L o w e ll o n ce o b s e r v e d that P o e ns o m e t im e s s e e m s to

2m is ta k e h is p h ia l o f p r u s s ic a c id fo r h is in k sta n d , n Poe^s rep u ta tio n

w a s, o f c o u r s e , a g r e a t boon to th e c ir c u la t io n o f any p u b lic a tio n w ith

w h ich he w a s a s so c ia te d * The S ou th ern L ite r a r y M e s s e n g e r a ttr ib u te d

to h im th e fe a t of " r a is in g th e c ir c u la t io n fro m a few h u nd red to f iv e

Qthousand" in l e s s than a y e a r . A lth ou gh P o e w a s la te r to b o a s t of th is

a c c o m p lish m e n t , i t i s doubtfu l th at he d e v e lo p e d h is c o n tr o v e r s ia l s ty le

w ith any m o r e th an o r d in a r y r e g a r d fo r i t s e f fe c t on c ir c u la t io n .

If P o e 's c r i t ic i s m s e e m e d unduly h a r sh and c a u s t ic , i t d id not

p r e v e n t L o w e ll fr o m r e c o g n iz in g a p e r v a d in g e x c e l le n c e in th e w r it in g

of th e n o to r io u s c r i t ic . . In a sk e tc h of P o e 's l i f e and c a r e e r w h ich

a p p e a r e d in 1845 he a s s e r t e d , "M r. P o e i s a t o n ce the m o s t d is c r im in a t

in g , p h ilo so p h ic a l, and f e a r l e s s c r i t ic upon im a g in a t iv e w o rk s w ho h a s

w r itte n in A m e r ic a . It w a s a ls o L o w e ll w ho h it upon p e r h a p s th e

m o s t te l l in g d e s c r ip t io n .o f P o e in h is book A F a b le F o r C r it ic s . H e r e ,

a s p a r t o f a sh o r t v e r s e , h e a s s e s s e d P o e a s " T h r e e - f if th s of h im

^ J a m es R u s s e l l L o w e ll, " E dgar A lla n P o e , " G r a h a m 's M a g a - z in e (Ju n e, 1845)/-in T he C o m p le te W ork s o f E dgar A lla n P o e , ed . J a m e s H a r r iso n (N ew Y ork, 1902), I, 369°

" ^ Sherw in C ody, P o e : M an, P o e t a n d .C r e a t iv e T h in k er (N ew Y ork , 1924), p . 7.

^ L o w e ll, lo c . c i t . , p . 369 =

g e n iu s , and tw o -f if th s s h e e r fu d g e . » „ « T h is im p r e s s io n -w a s c o r -

-r-ohorated by P o e* s c a r e e r a s a c r i t ic .

D e s p ite the ab u nd an ce and q u a lity of P o e 's c r i t i c a l r e v ie w s and

c o m m e n ta r y th e r e h a s b een c o m p a r a t iv e ly l i t t le a tte n tio n g iv e n to h is

c o n tr ib u tio n s in this, a r e a . W ith the e x c e p t io n of p e r h a p s th r e e f a ir ly

w e ll-k n o w n e s s a y s , "T he P h ilo so p h y o f C o m p o sit io n , " "T he P o e t ic

P r in c ip le " and "The R a tio n a le of V e r s e , " h is c r i t ic a l w r it in g h a s not

b een c o m m o n ly s tu d ie d and, a c c o r d in g to one s c h o la r , " often h is

c r i t ic i s m g a th e r s d u st on th e l ib r a r y s h e lf , T h e r e a r e , o f c o u r s e ,

so m e, s c h o la r ly tr e a tm e n ts of P o e a s l i t e r a r y c r i t ic but stu d y and

a n a ly s is of h is c r i t ic a l w r it in g s h a s b e e n fa r fro m e x h a u s t iv e .

One of th e c h ie f r e a s o n s fo r th is i s th at P o e 's s tr a n g e l i f e and

so m e w h a t m y s te r io u s p e r s o n a lity h a v e in tr ig u e d s c h o la r s m o r e than

h is w o r k s . M uch P o e s c h o la r s h ip h a s b een b io g r a p h ic a l and d ev o ted

to p ie c in g to g e th e r e-veasyminute d e ta il o f h is l i f e . T h e r e a r e n u m ero u s

b io g r a p h ie s of P o e a v a ila b le and, it m ig h t be added, th e r e a r e a s m a n y

im p r e s s io n s of P o e a s th e r e a r e b io g r a p h ie s . C r it ic a l in t e r e s t in P o e 's

sh o r t s t o r ie s and p o e m s h a s a ls o so m e w h a t o v e r sh a d o w e d th e im p o r ta n c e

of h is c o n tr ib u tio n s to c r i t i c i s m .

^Q uoted in E d w ard S hanks, E d gar A lla n .P o e (N ew Y ork, 1937),p . 144 ,

^ G eorge E . D e M ille , L ite r a r y C r it ic is m in A m e r ic a (N ew Y ork, 1931), p . 87.

5

T h e r e a r e o th er r e a s o n s w h y /P o e 's c r i t ic i s m i s o ften le f t

unread,, P o e 's c r i t ic a l w o r k s su ffe r fr o m a s p e c ia l typ e of p r o v in c ia l

is m . T h is i s not to s a y that h is c r i t i c a l p r in c ip le s , m e th o d s , and s k i l l s

w e r e bounded by h is t im e in h is to r y or e v e n h is lo c a tio n . Y et, u n fo r

tu n a te ly , P o e , w ith few e x c e p t io n s , d e a lt e x t e n s iv e ly w ith th e w o rk s of

h is c o n te m p o r a r ie s in h is r e v ie w s . . A nd h e w a s not a lw a y s s e le c t iv e .

S in c e h is s S lf -a p p o in te d ta s k s e e m e d to be to r a i s e th e s ta n d a r d of

A m e r ic a n le t t e r s he o ften sp e n t h is e n e r g ie s d is s e c t in g in fe r io r w o rk s

to i l lu s t r a t e w hat sh o u ld not be d on e. He w ish e d to c le a r th e "hacks"

fr o m th e A m e r ic a n l i t e r a r y s c e n e and h is m eth o d o f a tta c k e n ta ile d

m u ch w a st in g o f h is c r i t ic a l in t e l l ig e n c e on w o rk s w h ich w e r e to b e o f

l i t t le la s t in g im p o r ta n c e . A s G e o r g e D e M ilie e x p la in e d , P o e w a s g u ilty

of u sin g "a s ix te e n in c h gun to sh o o t sp a r r o w s" (p. 89)°

S t i l l a n o th er fa c to r to be c o n s id e r e d i s th e fa c t th at P o e d ev o ted

m u ch a tte n tio n to m in u te d e ta ils of g r a m m a r , p u n ctu a tion , m is p la c e d

a c c e n ts and lan g u a g e t e c h n ic a l i t ie s . ■ S in c e it w a s P o e 's o p in io n that

a tten tio n to th e s m a l le s t d e ta ils of c r a fts m a n sh ip w a s e s s e n t ia l to th e

p e r fe c t io n in th e h ig h e s t e le m e n ts , h is k e e n m in d le t no d e ta il e s c a p e

h is c r i t ic a l c o n s id e r a t io n . . T h is c o n c e r n w ith t e c h n ic a l i t ie s i s c h a r a c

t e r i s t i c o f a l l h is c r i t ic i s m and a lth o u g h h e s e e m e d at t im e s to d w e ll

u n n e c e s s a r i ly on m in u te d e ta i ls , he c e r ta in ly d id not d e s e r v e th e

d e s c r ip t io n " carp in g g r a m m a r ia n , " a p p lie d to h im by on e v ir u le n t

b io g r a p h e r . . In stea d , it h a s b e e n p o in te d out by G e o rg e D e M ille in h is

stu d y of P o e th at th is c h a r a c te r is t ic m a d e P o e a g o o d c r i t ic , "but a ls o

e x tr a o r d in a r ily h a rd rea d in g " (po . 92]U

. 3f th e r e i s r e la t iv e ly l i t t le c o n s id e r a t io n g iv e n P o e a s a l i t e r a r y

c r i t ic th e r e i s s t i l l l e s s d e v o te d to P o e a s a d ra m a c r i t i c . T h ere a r e

few tr e a tm e n ts of h im in th is c a p a c ity , d e s p ite the fa c t th at, in 1845,

w hen P o e w a s jo in t -e d ito r of th e B ro a d w a y J o u rn a l, h e tu r n e d h is a t te n

t io n s to th e N ew Y ork s ta g e . P o e had p u b lish e d s o m e c o m m e n ta r y on

th e d ra m a in p r e v io u s a r t i c l e s , but it w a s o n ly during th is f in a l p h a se o f

h is c a r e e r - - a t im e w hen h is c r i t i c a l p o w e r s w e r e fu lly m a tu r e d - - th a t

h e m o s t c o n c e r n e d h im s e lf w ith th e th e a tr e .

Q u a n tita tiv e ly P o e 's co n tr ib u tio n s to d r a m a tic c r i t i c i s m w e r e

q u ite lim ite d ; h e r e v ie w e d on ly e ig h t p la y s (four at len g th ), and c o m

m en ted on the d ra m a in a few o th er w r it in g s . H o w ev er , th e r e i s m u ch

of v a lu e and s ig n if ic a n c e to be found in h is e x a m in a tio n o f th e th e a tr e .

E le m e n ts of a th e o r y o f d ram a can be g le a n e d fr o m th e s e e s s a y s w h ich .

co n ta in id e a s d e s c r ib e d by D e M ille a s " e a s ily s e v e n ty - f iv e y e a r s in

a d v a n ce o f th e ir t im e" (p. 105). T h is s tu d y w il l c o n c e r n i t s e l f w ith a

c lo s e a n a ly s is o f P o e 's d r a m a tic c r i t ic i s m and the id e a s co n ta in ed in

th em .

B e fo r e b eg in n in g th is e x a m in a tio n , i t m a y be h e lp fu l to c o n

s id e r th e g e n e r a l c r i t ic a l and th e a tr ic a l c l im a te in w h ich he w r o te ,

s in c e h is id e a s and m e th o d s can p e r h a p s b e s t be u n d e r s to o d w hen

p la c e d a g a in s t th is b ack grou n d .

7

It i s not a lto g e th e r s tr a n g e th at P o e the c r i t ic sh o u ld h ave

b e c o m e a c o n tr o v e r s ia l f ig u r e 0 He w a s one of the f i r s t o f a s tr a n g e

new b r e e d .o f c r i t ic w h ich a p p e a r e d in a l i t e r a r y s o c ie t y a c c u s to m e d to

w hat m ig h t be c a l le d a npuff and p la t itu d e 11 sc h o o l o f cr itic ism < , P o e

f ir m ly b e lie v e d , a lo n g w ith L o w e ll, that 11 o » o b e fo r e w e ca n h ave an

A m e r ic a n lit e r a tu r e , w e m u st h a v e an A m e r ic a n c r i t i c i s m . 11 P o e

ech o ed th is se n t im e n t c o n c e r n in g th e A m e r ic a n d ra m a . ■ A fte r o u tlin in g a

p lan o f p r o g r e s s fo r th e a r t , h e d e c la r e d the im p o r ta n c e of an A m e r ic a n

d ra m a c r i t ic i s m sa y in g , "It i s o b v io u s . that to w a rd s th e good end

8in v ie w m u ch m a y be e f fe c te d by d is c r im in a t iv e c r i t i c i s m . . . . " B ut

any v ig o r o u s c o n s tr u c t iv e c r i t ic i s m in m id -n in e te e n th c e n tu r y A m e r ic a

w a s a r a r ity . B a s ic to th is co n c e p t of c r i t ic i s m w a s w h at P o e c a l le d a

" d e c la r a tio n of in d ep e n d e n c e fro m th e s o v e r e ig n ty of B r i t is h c r i t ic i s m .

P o e ab h or r e d A m e r ic a 's s u b s e r v ie n c e to th e B r i t is h c r i t i c s w ho g e n e r

a lly d o w n -g r a d e d A m e r ic a n w o r k s . A t th e s a m e t im e h e w a s in to le r a n t

of A m e r ic a n c r i t i c s w ho lau d ed any and e v e r y A m e r ic a n l i t e r a r y e f fo r t .

."^Lowell, lo c . c i t . , " E dgar A lla n P o e , " p . 368 .

^ E dgar A lla n P o e ,. "T he A m e r ic a n .D r a m a , " A m e r ic a n W hig R e v ie w .(A u gu st, 1839), in H a r r iso n ,. W o r k s , . X II ,. 37 .

9 E d gar A lla n P oe ,. " M a rg in a lia , " " N a tio n a lity in A m er ic a n . L e t t e r s , " A m erm am M i^ eu m ^ ( J a n . - F e b . , 1839), in T he W ork s of E dgar A lla n P o e (N ew Y ork , 1914), ed . Edm und. St e dm an and G e o r g e W o od b erry ,VIII, 2 5 8 . " M arg in a lia" w a s th e n am e of a co lu m n of m is c e l la n e o u s id e a s , o p in io n s and o b s e r v a t io n s w h ic h P o e c o n tr ib u ted to v a r io u s p e r io d ic a ls . T he co lu m n w a s d e s ig n e d by P o e to be sp o n ta n eo u s , in fo r m a l " s c r ib b lin g s , " but w a s u su a lly fo r m a lly w r it te n and o ften c o n s is t e d of t r a n s p la n ted p a r a g r a p h s fro m h is r e v ie w s su p p le m e n te d w ith a few f r e s h i t e m s .

P o e b e lie v e d that A m e r ic a n le t t e r s w e r e in a s ta te of " a b so lu te

quagm ireo." He a ls o found the co n d itio n o f th e A m e r ic a n d ram a d e p lo r

ab le; an o p in ion he s h a r e d w ith , m an y o th e r s . In 1847 W alt W hitm an,

w ho a ls o co n tr ib u te d to th e f ie ld of d r a m a tic c r i t ic i s m d u rin g h is

jo u r n a lis t ic c a r e e r w ith T he B ro o k ly n E a g le , w r o te a s e r i e s of a r t ic le s

d e s c r ib in g c o n d it io n s . He o b s e r v e d th at th e th e a tr e s w e r e g e n e r a lly

b e c o m in g " m o re and m o r e d e s e r te d by m e n and w o m en a s h a s b een the

c a s e fo r e ig h t or te n y e a r s p a s t , P o e had c o m m e n te d e a r l ie r c o n

ce r n in g th e p u b lic e n c o u r a g e m e n t o f th e d ra m a and had co n c lu d ed , "It

1 1 .i s u n su p p o rted , » , b e c a u s e i t d o es not d e s e r v e su p p o rt, " W hitm an

d e s c r ib e d th e N ew Y ork th e a tr e s sa y in g , "Of a l l th e low p la c e s w h e r e

v u lg a r ity (not o n ly on th e s ta g e but in fr o n t o f it ) i s in the a sc e n d a n t,

and bad ta s t e c a r r ie s th e day w ith h a r d ly a p o in t to m it ig a te i t s c o a r s e

n e s s , th e N ew Y ork T h e a t r e - - e x c e p t th e P a r k - - m a y w e l l be put , , ,

12at the top of th e h eap , " But ev e n th e P a r k he d e s c r ib e d a s a " th ird -

r a te im ita t io n of th e b e s t L ondon th e a tr e s , " He c o m p la in e d that

A m e r ic a w a s g iv e n " c a s t -o f f d r a m a s , and the u n en gaged p la y e r s of

G rea t B r ita in " (p. 147),

O peter' S m ith e d , , U n c o lle c te d P r o s e and P o e tr y of W alt W hitm an (G ard en C ity , 1921), I, 153 ,

11 P o e , "The A m e r ic a n D ra m a , " lo c , c i t . , p . 4 7 ,

■^Q uoted in B a r n a r d H ew itt, T h e a tr e U S A --1 6 8 8 -1 9 5 7 (N ew Y ork, 1959), p , 146 ,

9

In su c h an a tm o s p h e r e , i t i s not s u r p r is in g th at P o e r e g a r d e d

h im s e lf a s an a r i s t o c r a t of ta s te and a c o n n o is s e u r of e x c e l le n c e . He

s to o d r e s o lu t e ly a g a in s t w hat h e r e g a r d e d a s the " d o c tr in e o f p o p u la r ity "

in w h ich th e m e r i t of a w o r k w a s la r g e ly m e a s u r e d by i t s p o p u la r ity

w ith th e m a s s e s . He s ta te d th at p o p u la r ity w a s no in d ic a t io n of e x c e l

le n c e and that, in fa c t , the c o n v e r s e .w a s tr u e .

T h e tru th i s th at the p o p u la r ity of a w o rk i s p r im a fa c ie e v id e n c e o f a w o r k 's d e m e r it , in a s m u c h a s it sh o w s a '"stooping to c o n q u er* '-- in a sm u ch a s it sh o w s the a u th or h a s d e a lt la r g e ly , i f not a lto g e th e r in m a tte r s w h ich a r e s u s c e p t ib le of the a p p r e c ia t io n .o f th e m a s s of m ank ind , by u n ed u ca ted thought, by u n c u lt iv a te d ta s te , by u n r e fin e d and u n gu id ed p a s s io n s ,

P o e f e l t th at the f in a l ju d g m en t of a w o r k 's q u a lity sh o u ld be d e r iv e d

fro m an e n lig h te n e d c r i t i c i s m .

P o e w a s o ften c r i t ic a l of th e p o p u la r ta s te in d ra m a , a ta s tei , '

w h ic h he f e l t w a s r e s p o n s ib le fo r th e g r e a t s u c c e s s of D ion B o u c ic a u lt 's

London A s s u r a n c e , w h ich h e c a l le d "the m o s t in n an e and u tte r ly d e s p ic a b le

of a l l m o d e r n c o m e d ie s . T h is e x e m p lif ie d h e f e lt , h is p r o p o s it io n th a t

p o p u la r ity w a s no m e a s u r e o f a w o r k 's e x c e l le n c e . T h is a ttitu d e i s a ls o

a p p a ren t in h is s ta te m e n t c o n c e r n in g th e p o p u la r ity of th e p la y T he

H on eym oon , a w o rk h e c o n s id e r e d a " w re tch ed a f fa ir . " He c la im e d 1

1 ^E dgar A lla n P o e , " C h a r le s O 'M a lley , the I r is h D ragoon , " G r a h a m 's M a g a z in e (M a rch , 1832), in S ted m a n and W oo d b erry , W ork s,VII, 120 .

•*"^Edgar A lla n P o e , "New C o m ed y by M r s . M ow att, " B ro a d w a y Jou rn a l, M arch 29, 1845 , in H a r r iso n , C o m p le te W o rk s, XII, 120 .

10

th at th e p ro d u ctio n w a s " sa v e d to the s ta g e (fo r i t s s in s ) by a n um ber

of sp a r k lin g p o in ts w e ll a d ap ted to t e l l w ith a u d ie n c e s too i l l - c u l t iv a t e d

to e s t im a te m e r i t o th e r w is e , . , , P o e 's c o n tem p t fo r m u ch of th e

p o p u lar can a ls o be s e e n in h is tr e a tm e n t of C hatham T h e a tr e 's p r o d u c

tio n of T he F e m a le H o r s e th ie f , He r e p o r te d c o n te m p tu o u s ly th at "a

16v a s t n u m ber of p e o p le w ith ou t c o a ts , h a v e b een th row n in to ra p tu res"

by th e p r e s e n ta t io n . He n a m ed th e le a d in g lad y and th en p r o c e e d e d to

d e s c r ib e the le a d in g in c id e n t a s " her r id in g en h o m m e a v e r y la z y and

v e r y stu p id l i t t le h o r s e , " H is to n e w a s u n m ista k a b le ,

. It h a s b e e n s a id that, "It i s im p o s s ib le to c o m p r e h e n d or to

a p p r e c ia te P o e 's c r i t i c a l w o rk u n le s s on e u n d ersta n d s c l e a r ly that h e

17w a s a l i t e r a r y r e fo r m e r , " P o e f e lt , th en , that c r i t ic i s m had a

s p e c ia l fu n ctio n in r a is in g th e q u a lity and s ta n d a rd s of A m e r ic a n

le t t e r s and, i t sh ou ld be added , th e A m e r ic a n dram a; c o n se q u e n tly , h e

f e l t th at th e r e w e r e c e r ta in p r e r e q u is i t e s fo r th is c r i t i c i s m i f i t s a im s

w e r e to be a c c o m p lis h e d ,

. One of the m o s t e s s e n t ia l c o n d it io n s fo r th is c r i t ic i s m a s P o e

c o n c e iv e d it w a s in d e p en d en ce : A c r i t ic m u st be f r e e to e x e r c i s e h is

l^ E d g a r A lla n P o e , "The D ra m a , " B ro a d w a y J o u rn a l, Ju ly 26, 1845, in H a r r iso n ,. C o m p le te W o rk s, XII, 212 ,

l^ E d g a r A lla n P o e , "T he D ra m a , " B ro a d w a y J o u r n a l,. A u g u st 2, 1845,' in H a r r iso n , C o m p le te W ork s, XII, p . 190 ,

1 ?D e M ille , op , c i t , , p , 9 7 ,

c r i t ic a l judgm ent., T h is , a s h a s b een m en tio n ed , w a s not u s u a lly the

c a s e w ith A m e r ic a n c r i t ic i s m at the t im e , _ T he d ra m a c r i t ic w a s

p a r t ic u la r ly n o to r io u s fo r h is la c k of in d e p e n d e n c e . W hitm an in h is

s e r i e s of a r t ic le s had a ls o a tta c k e d the N ew Y ork d ra m a c r i t i c s to

18w hom h e r e f e r r e d a s " s la v e s o f th e pa id puff s y s te m , " H e d e c la r e d

that th e r e w a s "not on e in d ep en d en t;e c r i t i c to be found am on g a ll the

New Y ork jo u r n a lis t s . " P o e had c h r o n ic le d the a p p a llin g s ta te of N ew

Y ork th e a tr e c r i t ic i s m tw o y e a r s p r e v io u s ly in an ex c h a n g e w ith th e a tr e

m a n a g er M r. W, D in n efo rd (o r M r. P or M r. Q - - P o e p r e te n d e d to h a v e

d iff ic u lty r e a d in g the m a n 's h a n d w ritin g s in c e h e r e g a r d e d n ea t, le g ib le

h an d w ritin g a s a m a r k o f in t e l l ig e n c e and D in n e fo r d 's w a s , a c c o r d in g

to P o e , " sh o ck in g ly bad"). D in n efo rd w a s the m a n a g e r o f P a lm h is

th e a tr e and the m an r e s p o n s ib le fo r b r in g in g a p r o d u ctio n o f A n tig o n e

to N ew Y ork a u d ie n c e s . P o e had r e v ie w e d the p la y and d e a lt h a r s h ly

w ith i t and D in n efo rd r e sp o n d e d in a t e r s e , n a s ty n o te in fo r m in g P o e

that h is n am e had b een r e m o v e d fr o m th e " free l i s t , " a c o m p lim e n ta r y

l i s t w h ich p r o v id e d f r e e a d m is s io n to th o s e r e v ie w e r s w ho r e q u e s te d it .

P o e r e m in d e d th e a g ita te d m a n a g e r that h e had p r o m is e d "to do the

p la y ju s t ic e " and had don e so . He c la im e d that s o m e m a n a g e r s s e e m e d

to a tta ch c o n d itio n s to th e " free lis t" o f w h ich P o e sa id , "no p u ff-n o

•^ Q u oted in H ew itt, op. c i t . , p . 147 .

12

19p r iv i le g e i s th e con tract,, " He co n tin u ed by sa y in g th at a c r i t ic "when

a d m itte d to th e th e a tr e , i s u n d e rsto o d to be Leaving h is c o n s c ie n c e in

th e s t r e e t . He i s a d m itte d not to ju d g e - -n o t to c r i t i c i z e - - b u t to

ad u la te" (p. 138). T h is w en t a g a in s t th e v e r y e s s e n c e o f P o e 's

c r i t ic a l p h ilo so p h y .

It i s a p p a ren t fro m a l l th is that P o e r e g a r d e d w hat he te r m e d

" p la in -sp e a k in g " a s e s s e n t ia l to c r i t i c i s m . In one e s s a y he exp an d ed

th is id ea :

In g e n e r a l, w e sh o u ld not be o v er sc r u p u lo u s about n ic e t ie s of p h r a s e , w h en the m a tte r , in hand .is a dunce to be g ib b e ted .

• S p eak o u t- -o r th e p e r s o n .m ay not u n d ersta n d you . H e i s to be hung ? T h en .h an g h im by a l l m e a n s; but m ak e no bow w h e r e y o u m ea n no o b e is a n c e , and e s c h e w the d r o ll d e l ic a c y of the C low n in th e p la y - -" B e so good , s ir , a s to r i s e and be put to d eath . "20

It i s a ls o c le a r that P o e a d v o c a te d a c r i t ic i s m w h ich w a s " s im p le and

d ir e c t" both in id e a s and m a n n er of p r e s e n ta t io n . T h is i s sh ow n in h is

d e s c r ip t io n of the ty p ic a l d ram a c r i t ic of M s day:

T he tru th i s that c a n t h a s n e v e r a tta in e d a m o r e o w l- l ik e d ig n ity than in th e d is c u s s io n of d r a m a tic p r in c ip le . A m o d ern s ta g e c r i t ic i s noth ing, i f not a lo fty c o n te m n e r of a l l th in g s s im p le and d ir e c t . H e d e lig h ts in m y s te r y , r e v e ls in m y s t if ic a t io n , h a s tr a n sc e n d e n ta l n o tion s c o n c e r n in g P . S. and O. P . and ta lk s about " sta g e b u s in e s s and s ta g e e ffect" a s i f h e w e r e d is c u s s in g th e d if fe r e n t ia l c a lc u lu s . 21

1 9 E d gar A lla n P o e , " A ch illes ' W rath , " B ro a d w a y Jou rn a l, A p r il 18, 1845, in H a r r iso n , C o m p le te W o rk s, XII, 137.

2 0 E d gar A lla n P o e , " M a rg in a lia , " " E u p h em ism , " G o d ey 's L a d y 's B ook (F e b . 1842), in S ted m an and W o o d b erry , W o rk s, VII, 4 0 9 .

21 P o e , " A m er ica n . D ra m a , " lo c . c i t . , p. 47 .

13

O ther r e q u ir e m e n ts , fo r m in g the e s s e n t ia l s of P o e ' s c r i t ic a l

p h ilo so p h y ,, a r e found s c a t t e r e d th rou gh ou t h is r e v ie w s and e s s a y s . A t

one p o in t h e s ta te d , "We w ou ld w is h to l im it l i t e r a r y c r i t ic i s m to c o m

m en t on A r t . A book i s w r itte n , and it i s on ly a s th e book th at w e s u b

je c t i t to r e v ie w . W ith th e op in io n s of the au th or th e c r i t ic r e a l ly h a s

22noth ing to do. " W hen c o n s id e r in g su ch a w o rk P o e f e l t that, "W hen

w e look l e s s to m e r it and m o r e to d e m e r it , w e sh a ll b e b e tte r c r i t i c s

than w e a re" (p. 4 8 ). P o e r e g a r d e d h im s e lf a s an in s tr u c to r and f e l t

that " = . . in te a c h in g w hat p e r fe c t io n i s , , how , in fa c t , m a y w e m o r e

lo g ic a l ly p r o c e e d th an by s p e c ify in g w hat i t i s not" (p. 52 ). He c o n

s id e r e d th e e x c e l le n c e o f any w o rk ca p a b le o f s e l f -m a n if e s ta t io n but

fe lt " . = . i t r e m a in s fo r th e c r i t ic to show w hen, w h e r e and how it

f a i l s to b e c o m e m a n ife s t" (p. 51 ). A lth ou gh h e a llo w e d th e c r i t ic to

put the m e r i t s of th e au th or in a f la t te r in g lig h t a s a m e a n s of in t e r e s t

ing the r e a d e r , he m a in ta in e d th at " . . . h is le g it im a te ta s k i s s t i l l ,

in p o in tin g out and a n a ly z in g d e fe c ts and sh ow in g how the w o rk m ig h t

23h a v e b een im p r o v e d . . . . " T h is a tt itu d e tow ard c r i t ic i s m e x p la in s

in p a r t th e n e g a tiv e to n e of m u ch of P o e 's c r i t ic a l w r it in g . .

In on e a r t ic le on book r e v ie w in g P o e c ite d a p a s s a g e fro m

S ir E dw ard B u lw er , n in e teen th c e n tu r y n o v e l is t and p la y w r ig h t, and

^ E d g a r A lla n P o e , " D ick en s' B a rn a b y R udge, " G r a h a m 's M a g a z in e ( F e b . , 1842), in S ted m an and W o o d b erry , W o rk s, VII, 4 9 .

Z^Edgar A lla n P o e , "About C r it ic s a n d .C r it ic is m , " G r a h a m 's M a g a z in e ( J a n . , 1850), in H a r r iso n , C o m p le te W ork s, XIII, 194 .

14

r e v e a le d w hat h e s e e m e d to r e g a r d a s a c r e e d fo r c r i t ic s ;

A nd of the c r i t ic h im s e l f w hat s h a ll w e sa y ? W hat ca n w e b e tte r s a y of h im than, w ith B u lw e r , th at "he m u s t h a v e th e c o u r a g e to b la m e b o ld ly , m a g n a n im ity to e s c h e w envy , g e n iu s to a p p r e c ia te , le a r n in g to c o m p a r e , an e y e fo r b eau ty , an e a r fo r m u s ic , and a h e a r t fo r f e e l in g . " L e t us add, a ta le n t fo r a n a ly s is and a s o le m n in d if fe r e n c e toa b u s e . 24 .

It i s f it t in g th at P o e sh o u ld add th e q u a lif ic a t io n " ta len t fo r

a n a ly s is " s in c e m u ch of h is c r i t i c a l g e n iu s la y in that p a r t ic u la r a r e a .

A n a ly s is i s at the c o r e of P o e ' s c r i t i c a l m eth o d and s u g g e s t s th e

s c ie n t i f ic a p p ro a ch to l i t e r a r y c r i t ic i s m w h ich h e h e lp e d p io n e e r . P o e 's

a n a ly s is w a s a lw a y s b a se d on the p r o c e s s e s of r e a s o n in g and lo g ic . H e

began m o s t of h is c r i t ic i s m by ma,king h is d e f in it io n s , s ta t in g w hat h e

h e ld to be th e g e n e r a l la w s , e s ta b lis h in g b a s ic p r e m is e s and then " p ro-

25c e e d in g lo g ic a l ly to p r o v e h is c a s e . " P o e a tte m p te d to b a se m u ch of

h is c r i t ic a l a n a ly s is on g e n e r a l la w s o :r p r in c ip le s w h ich he f e l t

g o v e r n e d the c o m p o s it io n o f l i t e r a tu r e or the c r e a t io n o f A r t . H ow

e v e r , it sh o u ld be m e n tio n e d in c o n n e c tio n w ith P o e 's u s e o f r e a so n in g

in c r i t ic i s m th at h e w a s at t im e s g u ilty of u s in g in g e n io u s ly c o n c e iv e d

a r g u m e n ts to su p p ort s p e c io u s v ie w p o in ts .

P o e 's c r i t ic a l m eth o d w a s c h a r a c te r iz e d by a n o th er in t e r e s t

ing fe a tu r e . In a lm o s t e v e r y tr e a tm e n t of a n o v e l or p la y h e in c lu d e d a

^ E d g a r A lla n P o e , " R ev iew o f N ew B o o k s, " G r a h a m 's M a g a z in e ( J a n . , 1842), in H a r r iso n , C o m p le te W ork s, X IV , 4 2 .

^^De M il le , op. c i t . , p. 90=

c o m p le te , o b je c t iv e s y n o p s is of the p lo t , no m a tte r how le n g th y or

in v o lv e d , w h ich s e r v e d a s a typ e of fr a m e w o r k fo r h is c o m m e n ts . T h is

tech n iq u e u ndoubted ly fa c i l i t a t e d h is u s e o f lo g ic and r e a s o n s in c e he

w a s p r o v id e d w ith a s u b s ta n t ia l r e f e r e n c e fo r h is c r i t i c a l p o in ts . It

a ls o en a b led any r e a d e r , r e g a r d le s s o f w h e th e r he had r e a d th e s e l e c

t io n or not, to c o m p le te ly u n d e rsta n d P o e 's c r i t i c i s m .

A ny im p r e s s io n of P o e a s c r i t i c m u st in c lu d e a c o n s id e r a t io n

of h is w eaknesses,, J o sep h W ood K ru tch in h is c o n s id e r a t io n o f P o e a s a; - • ' !

c r i t ic p o in ts out so m e o f th e s e . He s a y s th at P o e w a s a f fe c te d in th is

c a p a c ity by h is " lim ite d ed u ca tio n . P o e had c o m p le te d on e y e a r o f

c o l le g e and w a s a p p a ren tly w e l l r e a d in th e A m e r ic a n and E n g lish

lite r a tu r e o f h is day,, "but o f E n g lish l i t e r a tu r e p r e v io u s to the N in e -

27te e nth C en tu ry h e knew v e r y l i t t le . " P o e had r e a d S h a k e sp e a r e and

a few o th er E liz a b e th a n d r a m a t is t s . H e w a s f a m il ia r w ith M ilto n and a

few E ig h tee n th C en tu ry w r i t e r s . T h e r e i s e v id e n c e th at h e w a s f a ir ly

k n o w le d g e a b le in F r e n c h l i t e r a tu r e . H e had s tu d ied L a tin in sc h o o l

and had a co m m a n d of that la n g u a g e . H e a ls o knew so m e th in g of G r e e k .

Y et, fo r a p r a c t is in g c r i t ic h is b ack grou n d w a s sk e tc h y . M o st s ig n i f i

can t w a s that, " N ow h ere d o es P o e g iv e m u ch e v id e n c e of p o s s e s s in g th e

h is t o r ic s e n s e . . . " (p. 102) and it w a s p ro b a b ly b e c a u s e of th e se fa c to r s

J o sep h W ood K rutch ,. E d gar A lla n P o e (N ew Y ork , 1926),p . 216 .

^ D e M il le , op. c i t . , p. 101.

16

that Mhe co u ld not co n fro n t c o n te m p o r a r y w o rk s w ith th e m a s t e r p ie c e s

o f the p a s t and d is p a s s io n a te ly judge them by the s ta n d a rd o f w o r ld

28l i t e r a t u r e ." T h is m a y e x p la in P o e 's o c c a s io n a l " h y s te r ic a l a d m ir a -

29tio n fo r s e c o n d -r a te w r ite r s " w h ich p ro m p ted su ch s ta te m e n ts a s ,

" F or one F ou q u e th e r e a r e f if ty M oli& res. He. w a s p e r h a p s u n ab le

to p la c e th em in th e ir p r o p e r l i t e r a r y p e r s p e c t iv e .

. C o n s id e r in g th is a s p e c t of P o e m a y a ls o p a r t ia l ly ex p la in w hat

h a s b een te r m e d h is m o s t u n fortu n ate c r i t ic a l d e fe c t , h is m o n o m a n ia

about o r ig in a lity . P o e w a s c o n tin u a lly a c c u s in g h is c o n te m p o r a r ie s of

p la g ia r is m or a t th e le a s t o f b la tan t " b o rro w in g . " T h is o b s e s s io n and

i t s r a m if ic a t io n s in h is d r a m a tic c r i t i c i s m w i l l be d i s c u s s e d m o r e fu lly

in a n o th er c h a p te r . In l i t e r a r y c i r c l e s , h o w e v e r , i t w a s th is o b s e s s io n

w h ich w a s a t th e b a s is of the fa m o u s " L o n g fe llo w W ar" w h ic h w a s c o n

d u cted in tw o p e r io d ic a ls a fte r P o e a c c u s e d the e s ta b lis h e d p o e t o f

Q *|b e in g " in fe c te d w ith a m o r a l ta in t" . and p o in te d ly r e f e r r e d to a s tr a in

of im ita t io n h e found in m o s t o f L o n g fe llo w 's p o e tr y . . A lth ou gh L o n g

fe llo w n e v e r pub lip ly d e fen d ed h im s e lf , h is c a u s e w a s ta k en by a w r ite r

w ho s ig n e d h im s e l f a s "O utis" (now g e n e r a l ly b e lie v e d to be a c e r ta in

Z^Krutch, pp. c i t . , p . 217 .

29D e M ille , op . c i t . , p. 100 .

3 0 p o e , " C h a r le s O 'M a lley , " lo c . c i t . , p. 89.

E d gar A lla n P o e , "A R ep ly to O u tis , " B ro a d w a y Jou rn a l, M arch 8, 1845, in H a rr iso n ,. C o m p le te W o r k s ,. XII, p . 4 2 .

17

32C o r n e liu s Co F elton )o T he e x c h a n g e s b e tw e e n th e tw o in v o lv e d

c h a r g e s and c o u n te r c h a r g e s of p la g ia r is m and p e r s o n a l i t i e s w e r e

d e f in ite ly in vo lved ,, P o e 5 in h is argum ent^ g a v e detailed^ s p e c if ic

e x a m p le s of p a r a l le ls in p o e t ic id e a s and s ty le b e tw een p o e m s of

L o n g fe llo w and B ry a n t, L o n g fe llo w and T en n y so n , L o n g fe llo w and a.

h o s t o f m in o r poetSo M o st P o e s c h o la r s s e e m to a g r e e that P o e p la c e d

h im s e l f in a v e r y bad lig h t and did ir r e p a r a b le d a m a g e to h is c r i t ic a l

reputationo P e r h a p s th is c o u ld h a v e b een a v o id ed had a g r e a te r k n o w l

ed g e of l i t e r a r y h is to r y 11 o o, => taught h im th e r a r ity of o r ig in a lity , e v e n

3 3am on g th e g r e a t e s t ."

K rutch d e s c r ib e s P o e a s a m an w ho w a s d e e p ly s e n s i t iv e to h is

in te l le c tu a l sh o r tc o m in g s and one who g a v e th e im p r e s s io n of b e in g m o r e

k n o w le d g e a b le than h e w a s . K ru tch r e f e r s to P o e ’s a ttitu d e tow ard o ld

l i t e r a tu r e a s an e x a m p le o f how h e a tte m p te d to m a sk h is d e f ic ie n c ie s .

He r a r e ly d is c u s s e d o ld l i t e r a tu r e but, "w hen h e did, „ „ . i t i s g e n e r a l ly

w ith the a s su m p tio n th at h is ow n g e n e r a t io n had r e f in e d upon and im p r o v e d

th e m eth o d s e m p lo y e d in fo r m e r t im e s . P o e 's o b s e r v a t io n s and

a p p a ren t a ttitu d e to w a rd G r e e k d ra m a w o u ld s e e m to su p p o rt K ru tch 1 s

c o n ten tio n . He c i t e s s p e c i f ic a l ly an e x a m p le fro m P o e ’s r e v ie w of A n t ig o n e :

32E dd W in fie ld P a r k s , E d gar A lla n P o e a s L it e r a r y C r it ic (A th en s , G e o r g ia , . 1964), p . 77.

' 33D e M ille , op . c i t . , p . 9 0 .

^ K r u t c h , op. c i t . , p . 219 .

18

o o o th e r e i s about the A u tig o u e , a s w e l l a s ab ou t a l l th e a n c ie n t p la y s , an in s u f fe r a b le b a ld n e s s , or p la titu d e , th e in e v ita b le r e s u lt of in e x p e r ie n c e in A r t - - b u t a b a ld n e s s , n e v e r t h e le s s , w h ich p ed a n try w o u ld f o r c e us to b e l ie v e the r e s u lt o f a s tu d ied and s u p r e m e ly a r t i s t ic s im p lic ity a lo n e .

. S im p lic ity i s , in d eed , a v e r y lo fty and v e r y e f fe c t iv e fe a tu r e in a l l tru e A r t - - but not th e s im p lic ity w h ich w e s e e in th e G r eek d ra m a . T he s im p lic ity o f th e G r eek s c u lp tu r e i s e v e r y th in g th at ca n be d e s ir e d , b e c a u s e h e r e the a r t i s s im p lic i ty in i t s e l f , and in i t s e le m e n t s . T he G r eek s c u lp to r c h is e l le d h is fo r m s fro m w hat h e saw b e fo r e h im e v e r y d a y , in a b ea u ty fa r n e a r e r to p e r fe c t io n than an y w o rk of any C le o m e n e s in th e w o r ld . But in the d ra m a , th e d ir e c t - - t h e s tr a ig h t fo rw a rd , u n -G e r m a n G r eek h a s no n a tu re so d ir e c t ly , p r e s e n te d , fro m w h ich to co p y h is c o n c e p t io n s .H e d id w hat h e c o u ld --b u t th at w a s of e x c e e d in g ly l i t t le w o rth .T he p rofou n d s e n s e of one or tw o tr a g ic , or r a th e r m e lo d r a m a tic e le m e n ts (su c h a s th e id e a o f in e x o r a b le D e s t in y ) - - th is s e n s e , g le a m in g a t in te r v a ls fr o m out the d a r k n e s s of the a n c ie n t s ta g e , s e r v e s , in th e im p e r fe c t io n of i t s d e v e lo p m en t, to show not th e d r a m a tic a b ility , but the d r a m a tic in a b il ity of the a n c ie n ts . In a w ord , the s im p le a r t s sp r in g in to p e r fe c t io n , a t th e ir o r ig in . T h e .c o m p le x d em an d th e long and p a in fu l p r o g r e s s iv e e x p e r ie n c e of a g e s . ^

T h is K rutch r e g a r d s a s an e x a m p le of P o e 's d e fe n s iv e r e a so n in g to

3bsu p p ort an " im p e r fe c t ly c u lt iv a te d t a s t e . 11 It d o e s s e e m that P o e too

e a s i ly d is m is s e d th e G r eek d ra m a and f a i le d to p e r c e iv e th e co n cep t of

u n iv e r s a lity in tr a g ic th e m e s or c h a r a c te r s . H o w ev er , in d e fe n s e o f

P o e , i t sh o u ld be n o ted th at s o m e o f h is o b je c tio n w a s to A n tigon e in

p a r t ic u la r . He f e l t th at th is p la y w a s " v a s t ly in fe r io r to any one of th e

37d r a m a s o f A e s c h y lu s . . » . " H e a ls o p e r c e p t iv e ly n o ted th at "any

^ E d g a r A lla n P o e , "T he A n tig o n e a t P a lm o 's , " B ro a d w a y J o u rn a l, A p r il 12, 1845, in H a rr iso n ,, C o m p le te W ork s, XII, 1 3 1 -2 .

K rutch , op . c it . , p . 22 1 .

3 ? P o e , "The A n tig o n e at P a l m o ' s , " lo c . c i t . , p . 132.

19

p la y o f E u r ip id e s w ou ld h a v e b een m o r e a c c e p ta b le to a m o d e r n a u d i

e n c e , 11 an id e a now g e n e r a l ly h e ld , (p. 132),

A n o th er b a s is fo r P o e 's r e m a r k s on A n tig o n e s e e m e d to be

that h e f e l t G r eek p la y s w e r e v ie w e d in a s p e c ia l m a n n er by G reek

a u d ie n c e s . T h is i s in d ic a te d in h is r e m a r k s :

W e s h a ll not p r e te n d to en ter in to a d is c u s s io n of the m e r i t s • of A n tig o n e a s A n tig o n e w a s w r it te n by S o p h o c le s and p e r - fo r m e d a t A th en s - - w e s h a ll not do th is fo r the s im p le r e a so n th at th at A n tig o n e i s a m a tte r ab ou t w h ich w e m o d e r n s happen to know noth ing - - th e p r o o f b e in g , th at no tw o of th e s c h o l ia s t s a g r e e in any one p o in t r e s p e c t in g i t .

T h is s a m e thought s e e m e d to be e x p r e s s e d in h is c o m m e n ts : "The

id e a o f re p r o d u c in g a G r e e k p la y b e fo r e a m o d ern a u d ie n c e , i s the id e a

of a p ed an t and noth ing b e y o n d --th a t i s to sa y , i f th e p r o d u c e r d r e a m s

o f c r e a t in g any r e a l in t e r e s t in th e p lay" (p. 132 ), A lth o u g h P o e

undoubted ly fa i le d to a p p r e c ia te th e g r e a tn e s s o f th e G r e e k d ram a, h is

a rg u m en t d id h a v e a c e r ta in v a lid ity .

A c c o r d in g to K ru tch P o e h e lp e d c r e a te e a m o r e in te l le c tu a l

im a g e th rou gh h is u s e o f o b s c u r e q u o ta tio n s and n a m e s fro m fo r e ig n

la n g u a g e s . T h e s e a r e p r e v a le n t in a l l h is c r i t ic a l w o r k s , "But th ey

a r e o ften , p erh a p s u su a lly , b o r r o w e d fr o m se c o n d a r y s o u r c e s ,

B y th is m eth o d P o e g e n e r a te d an e s o t e r ic q u a lity in m u ch of h is c r i t i c i s m .

T h e r e i s one a s p e c t o f P o e 's c r i t i c a l s ty le w h ich sh ou ld be

b r ie f ly n o ted in any a c c o u n t of h is w e a k n e s s e s , . He d is p la y e d a d e c id e d

^ K r u tc h , op , c i t , , p , 22 0 ,

ten d en cy to w a rd e x a g g e r a t io n - -w h e th e r in h ig h e s t p r a is e or lo w e s t

condem nation ,, He w a s th e m a s te r o f s u p e r la t iv e s and o v e r - b low n

p h r a s e s .

It h a s a ls o b een p o in ted out th at P o e w a s p a r t ic u la r ly le n ie n t

in h is tr e a tm e n t o f w o m e n w r it e r s and w o u ld fr e q u e n tly o v e r p r a is e

th e ir w o rk . ^ In an in tr o d u c tio n to an e a r ly c o l le c t io n of. P o e 's l i t e r a r y

c r i t ic i s m s c h o la r E d m u n d .S ted m an o b se r v e d , "H is n o t ic e s of w o m en

a r e a lw a y s k ind , in on e or tw o c a s e s o v e r w e e n in g ly s o . T h is he

a ttr ib u ted to a "kind o f c h iv a lr y . . * a tta c h e d to h is c o n c e p tio n o f th e m . '

41P o e a d m itte d ly " cou ld not p o in t an a r r o w a t a w o m a n --" and as one

P o e s c h o la r n oted , "He o ften e r r e d in the o th er d ir e c t io n : h is p r a is e

o c c a s io n a l ly s e e m s fu ls o m e and s tr a in e d . " T he one e x c e p t io n to th is

s e e m e d to b e h is c r i t i c i s m of M rs.- C ora M ow att w h ich s e e m e d b a s e d

42on a s in c e r e a d m ir a tio n and " ch a rm in g c o m p r e h e n s io n " o f the m a n y

ta le n ts of th e g if te d w o m a n .

. A lth o u g h P o e 's l im ita t io n m u st b e c o n s id e r e d w h en d is c u s s in g

any of h is c r i t ic a l w o r k s , th is i s not to d e tr a c t fro m th e g e n e r a lly

e x c e l le n t and o ften p ro fo u n d q u a lity of h is c r i t i c i s m . T h e r e i s m uch

e v id e n c e of th e " innate p o w er of h is m ind" and in m a n y r e s p e c t s P o e

3 9 P a r k s , op. c i t . , p . 93 .

E dm und S ted m an , " In trod u ction , " C o m p le te W ork s, VII, x x i .

41 P a r k s , op., c i t . , p . 9 3 .

^ s t e d m a n , lo c . c i t . , p . x x i .

21

w a s a g r e a t c r i t i c . T h is s h a ll be s e e n m o r e c le a r ly a s w e tu rn to h is

d r a m a tic c r i t ic i s m ,

. F o r th e sa k e o f a n a ly s is i t i s d e s ir a b le to m a k e tw o d iv is io n s

of P o e 's d r a m a tic c r i t ic i s m , - A f i r s t s e c t io n . C hapter II, w i l l d ea l

w ith P o e 's s p e c if ic r e m a r k s c o n c e r n in g p ro d u ctio n e le m e n ts - - a c tin g ,

s ta g in g , th e a tr e c o n v e n tio n s , A se c o n d . C hapter I I I , . w i l l be c o n

c e r n e d w ith h is m o r e g e n e r a l c o m m e n ts r e g a r d in g d r a m a a s a l i t e r a r y ,

a r t is t ic fo r m .

C H A P T E R II

P O E ON PR O D U C TIO N

S p rin g of 1845 found P o e a tten d in g th e th e a tr e fo r th e f i r s t

t im e in th e c a p a c ity of d ra m a c r i t ic . H is p r e v io u s c o m m e n ta r y on th e

d ram a had b een of a g e n e r a l l i t e r a r y n a tu re , but a s h e b e c a m e in v o lv e d

w ith th e " liv in g" th e a tr e of h is t im e h is c o m m e n ts n a tu r a lly b e c a m e

m o r e d ir e c t ly c o n c e r n e d w ith a ll a s p e c t s of p la y p r o d u c tio n . . It i s

in te r e s t in g , h o w e v e r , that P o e c o u ld n e v e r l im it h im s e l f to s im p ly

v ie w in g and ev a lu a tin g th e p la y s of h is d ay . In stea d h is c o m m e n ts on

p ro d u ctio n m o s t fr e q u e n tly s e r v e d a s fo c a l p o in ts fo r th e d is c u s s io n

and a d v a n cem en t of h is p h ilo so p h y o f d ra m a .

. It h a s b een o b s e r v e d that P o e s e e m e d to o b je c t to "the e n t ir e

n a tu re of the p r e - n a t u r a l i s t ic th ea tre" and th is i s c o n f ir m e d in h is

r e p e a te d a tta c k s on th e h a c k n e y e d c o n v e n tio n s w h ich d o m in a ted the

s ta g e . P o e f ir m ly b e l ie v e d th at "the day h a s at len g th a r r iv e d w hen

2m e n d em an d r a t io n a l it ie s in p la c e o f c o n v e n t io n a lit ie s . " P o e f e lt that

th e a tr e p r a c t ic e s sh ou ld be g o v e r n e d b)r w hat he te r m e d , "the u n iv e r s a l

• . ^ B r y llio n N. F a g in , " P oe: D ra m a C r it ic , " T h e a tr e A n n u a l,VI, 1946, p. 23 .

^ P oe , "New C om ed y by M r s . M ow att, " lo c . c i t . , p. 119 =

22

d ic ta te s of co m m o n s e n se " (p. 119) and th at v e r i s im il i t u d e sh o u ld be a

g o a l of th e d ra m a .

In h is f i r s t r e v ie w of M r s . M o w a tt’s F a sh io n h e c ite d so m e of

th e a b su r d p r a c t ic e s he f e l t sh o u ld be b a n ish e d fro m th e th e a tr e . T h ey

in c lu d e d "the r e c ta n g u la r c r o s s in g s and r e c r o s s in g s o f th e d r a m a tis

p e r s o n a e on th e s ta g e ; th e co m in g fo r w a r d to th e fo o t lig h ts w hen a n y

th in g of in t e r e s t i s to be told; the r ea d in g of le t t e r s in a lou d r h e to r ic a l

tone; th e p r e p o s te r o u s so lilo q u iz in g ; and th e ev e n m o r e p r e p o s te r o u s

'a s id e s '" (pp. 1 1 8 -9 )° H e found su c h c o n v e n tio n s g r o s s ly in a r t i s t ic and

a ls o q u ite u n n e c e s s a r y s in c e "No p e r s o n o f co m m o n in g e n u ity w ill be

w illin g to a d m it th at e v e n .a m o s t in tr ic a te n a r r a t iv e c o u ld not be r e n

d e r e d in te l l ig ib le w ith ou t th e s e m o n str o u s in a r t i s t ic a l i t i e s " (p. 119)°

. P o e 's o b je c tio n to s o l i lo q u ie s s e e m e d to be th at i t had no b a s is

in hum an n a tu re s in c e , " p eop le a r e not in th e h ab it of s o lilo q u iz in g

3a lo u d - -a t le a s t , not to any p o s it iv e e x te n t . " C o n seq u en tly i t had no

p la c e on the s ta g e . It w a s on th e b a s is of v e r i s im i l i t u d e th at P o e a r g u e d

a g a in s t th e a s id e s w h ich w e r e so co m m o n in n in e teen th c e n tu r y p la y s .

He f e l t th at th e a s id e v io la te d co m m o n s e n s e and d e s tr o y e d the i l lu s io n

o f tru th on th e s ta g e . W ith c h a r a c t e r is t ic P o e lo g ic h e a sk e d :

W ill our p la y w r ig h ts n e v e r le a r n , th rou gh th e d ic ta te s o f co m m o n s e n s e , that an a u d ie n c e u n d er no c ir c u m s ta n c e s ca n o r w il l be b rou gh t to c o n c e iv e th at w hat i s so n o r o u s in th e ir own e a r s a t a d is ta n c e of f if ty f e e t fr o m th e s p e a k e r

^ Poe, " A m e r ic a n D r a m a , " lo c . c i t . , p. 53.

• 24

can n ot be h e a r d by an a c to r a t the d is ta n c e of one or tw o

P o e a p p a r e n tly fa i le d to ta k e in to a cco u n t the v e r y e f fe c t iv e

and a r t i s t ic u t i l iz a t io n o f a s id e s and s o l i lo q u ie s in the h an d s of su ch .

p la y w r ig h ts a s Shake sp e a r e« T h is i s u n d e rsta n d a b le , h o w e v e r , in v ie w

of P o e 's co n c e p t o f th e a tr e w h ich e m p h a s iz e d a tru th fu l d e p ic t io n of l i f e

b a se d on m a n 's co m m o n a c c e p ta n c e o f w hat w a s n a tu ra l or r e a l i s t ic .

T he bounds of p r o b a b ility in th is ty p e o f p la y , w h ich w i l l be d is c u s s e d

m o r e fu lly in C hapter III, do n ot a llo w fo r su ch "unnatural" o c c u r r e n c e s

a s a s id e s or s o l i lo q u ie s . F o r the s a m e r e a s o n the p r e s e n c e of su ch

c o n v e n tio n s in a q u a s i - r e a l i s t i c p la y su ch a s F a sh io n m u st h a v e ja r r e d

P o e . . T h e p la y s o f S h a k e sp e a r e , though, a r e b o ld ly th e a tr ic a l and d ep en d

ent upon th e a c c e p ta n c e of a c e r ta in ty p e o f p r o b a b ility and c o n v e n tio n s .

T h e u s e of a r t i f i c ia l m e a n s su ch a s la n g u a g e w r it te n in b lan k v e r s e , apd

s im p le s ta g in g ta k e th e p la y out of th e r e a lm of e v e r y d a y r e a l is m and

p la c e i t in a s p e c ia l th e a tr ic a l r e a l ity . T h is w a s not th e r e a l i t y P o e

e n v is io n e d and c o n se q u e n tly , fo r h is id e a of th e a tr e to e m e r g e , th e r e

had to be a b r e a k -d o w n o f co n v e n tio n s su ita b le on ly to a n o th er g e n r e .

H e r e m a in e d so c o n v in c e d of th e a b su r d ity o f c o n te m p o r a r y s ta g e

p r a c t ic e s th at h e o n c e r e m a r k e d in h is " M arg in a lia" c o lu m n that th e s e

r id ic u lo u s c o n v e n t io n s .m a d e "the s h if t s / s c e n e c h a n g e s / em p lo y ed

4 P o e , "New C o m ed y by M r s . M ow att, " lo c . c i t . , p. 119.

25C

by th e C h in e se p la y w r ig h ts a p p ea r a lto g e th e r r e sp e c ta b le ,, "

P o e 's c o m m e n ts o n a c t in g ,• a lth o u g h not e x te n s iv e , w e r e g u id ed

by the s a m e p r e c e p ts and g e n e r a l a t t itu d e , . A c tr e s s -p la y w r ig h t M r s ,

C ora M ow att w a s the su b je c t of m o s t o f P o e ' s c r i t ic i s m on a c t in g , P o e

w a s a g r e a t a d m ir e r of th is ta le n te d w o m a n w ho a p p a r e n tly e p ito m iz e d

h is c o n c e p ts of w hat a c t in g sh o u ld b e . It i s in te r e s t in g th at it w a s a

d e fe n s e o f M r s , M ow att w h ich o c c a s io n e d s o m e r e m a r k s by P o e

in d ic a t iv e of h is s e n t im e n ts to w a rd th e th e a tr e and the a c t in g p r o fe s s io n ,

M r s , M ow att, a r e s p e c te d m e m b e r of New Y ork s o c ie ty , had c o m e

under c e n s u r e fo r a p p ea r in g on th e s ta g e , P o e took up h e r c a u s e and

e x p r e s s e d th e id e a th at th e th e a tr e " e m b r a c e s a l l th at ca n e le v a te and

en n o b le , H is a ttitu d e to w a rd a c to r s w a s ev id en t in the s ta te m e n t,

" T he a c to r of ta le n t i s p o o r at h e a r t , in d e e d , i f he do not look w ith

co n tem p t upon th e m e d io c r ity ev e n of a k in g , " He e n la r g e d upon th is

op in ion w ith a r e f e r e n c e to h is own a c t r e s s m o th e r :

T he w r ite r of th is a r t ic le i s h im s e l f th e so n of an a c t r e s s - - h a s in v a r ia b ly m a d e it h is b o a s t - -a n d no e a r l w a s e v e r p ro u d er of h is e a r ld o m than h e o f th e d e s c e n t fro m a w o m a n w ho, a lth o u g h w e ll -b o r n , h e s ita te d not to c o n s e c r a te to th e d ram a h e r b r ie f c a r e e r of g e n iu s and b ea u ty (p, 186),

^E dgar A lla n P o e , " M a rg in a lia , " " A s id e s , " G r a h a m 's M a g a - z in e ( N o v , , 1846), in S ted m an and W o o d b erry , W o rk s, VII, 40 4 ,

^ E dgar A lla n P o e , "The D ra m a , " B ro a d w a y Jou rn a l, Ju ly 19, 1845, in H a r r iso n ,. C o m p le te W ork s, p , 185 .

?I b id . , p. 186.

26

P o e f i r s t saw M r s » M ow att at N ibLo's th e a tr e in a p ro d u ctio n

of B u lw e r 's T he L ad y of L y o n s . H er p o r tr a y a l of P a u lin e , the p r o ta g

o n is t , so c a p tiv a te d th e c r i t ic th at h e d e v o te d m u ch s p a c e to a d e ta ile d

a s s e s s m e n t of h e r a b i l i t ie s , J&fter a le n g th y and f la t te r in g p h y s ic a l

d e s c r ip t io n of th e a c t r e s s , P o e m e n tio n e d h er g r a c e fu l and a s s u r e d

s ta g e p r e s e n c e . He w a s im p r e s s e d by h e r u s e of g e s tu r e w h ich he

d e s c r ib e d a s " se e m in g ly im p u ls iv e . " W ith h er r e a d in g or in te r p r e ta

tio n P o e co u ld fin d l i t t le fa u lt e x c e p t fo r a s l ig h t a f fe c ta t io n he te r m e d

an " o c c a s io n a l A n g lic ism of a c c e n t , a d o p ted p ro b a b ly fr o m h er

oin s tr u c to r , " T h is c e r ta in ly d id not d e tr a c t f r o m .P o e 's c o n v ic tio n

that th e r e w a s no a c t r e s s h e r eq u a l in A m e r ic a s in c e th is fa u lt w a s

o v e r -s h a d o w e d by the ab u nd an ce of a ttr ib u te s h ig h ly p r iz e d by P o e .

A s h e ex p la in e d , " th e se q u a lit ie s , a s sh e now p o s s e s s e s th em , a r e a l l

s u ff ic ie n t , w h en c o n s id e r e d s im p ly a s the m e a n s by w h ich th e g r e a t

qend of n a tu ra l a c tin g i s to be c o n su m m a te d . . » . " In sp ea k in g of h e r

a b i l i t ie s he a ls o n oted , " . . . sh e r e a d s not th e a tr ic a lly , but w ith th e

e m p h a s is of N a tu r e . It w a s in th is s a m e r e v ie w th at P o e su m m e d

up the a d m ir a b le c h a r a c t e r is t ic s of h er a c tin g s ty le sa y in g , "Indeed,

the g r e a t ch a rm o f th e w h o le a c tin g of M r s . M ow att i s i t s n a tu r a lis m .

8I b id . , p. 188 .

9 P o e , "T he D ra m a , " Ju ly 26, 1845, lo c . c i t . , p . 191 .

1 8 p 0e, "The D r a m a , " July 19, 1845, lo c . c i t . , p. 188.

She m o v e s , lo o k s , and sp e a k s w ith a w e l l - c o n t r o l le d im p u ls iv e n e s s a s

d iffe r e n t a s can be fr o m th e c u s to m a r y ra n t and c a n t- - th e h a ck c o n

v e n t io n a lity of the s ta g e" (p„ 188)„

In a la te r a p p r a is a l o f h e r a c tin g P o e m e n tio n e d a s h e r m o s t

o u tsta n d in g . a ttr ib u te h e r " » « » e n th u s ia sm - -a n u n a ffe c te d f r e s h n e s s

11 .of th e h e a r t , th e c a p a c ity not o n ly to th in k but to f e e h " T h is c a p a c ity

fo r fe e l in g a p p a r e n tly g a v e an e m o tio n a l dep th to h e r a c tin g w h ich w a s

unique to th e s ta g e of th e t im e . In d is c u s s in g h er a c t in g a s L u cy in

The B r id e o f L a m m e r m o o r , P o e d w elt on h e r a b ility to d e p ic t em o tio n

r e a l i s t ic a l ly and b e lie v a b ly . H e m e n tio n e d th at sh e c o u ld p ro d u ce

"N ature*s ow n t e a r " to h e r e y e . In th e s a m e r e v ie w h e s p e c i f ic a l ly

r e f e r r e d to h e r p o r tr a y a l of " a p ath etic and m u te d e s p a ir , " "the dum b,

u n com p reh en d in g w r e tc h e d n e s s , " "the la b o r in g a n x ie ty fo r th e r e l ie f o f

12w o r d s , " a s th e r e s u lt of "the te a c h in g of . , , N a tu re h e r s e l f , "

It i s c le a r from . P o e 's c o m m e n ts on M r s , M o w a tt's a c tin g th at

in th is a r e a too he w a s c o n c e r n e d w ith p r e s e n t in g a tru th fu l, m o r e l i f e

lik e and b e lie v a b le r e p r e s e n ta t io n on th e s ta g e . H is r e p e a te d r e f e r e n c e s

to n a tu re ^ n a tu ra lism ) and i t s a p p lic a t io n to both d e l iv e r y and body

m ovem en t,, su p p o rt th is .

P o e , "The D ra m a , " A u g u st 2, 1845 , lo c , c i t , , p , 212 ,

1 ^ P oe , "The D ra m a , " Ju ly 26, 1845 , lo c , c i t , , p , 192,

28

P o e 's m o r e g e n e r a l c o m m e n ts on a c tin g w e r e l im ite d to

in s ta n c e s w h e r e h e p o in ted ou t w hat h e c o n s id e r e d m is c o n c e p t io n s in

c h a r a c te r iz a t io n . F o r exam p le ,, P o e d is m is s e d the a c to r M r. C r isp '

/W illia m D. ? / a s " in to le r a b le " fo r h is p o r tr a y a l of H u y 'G om ez in

P la n c h e 's F a in t H e a r t N e v e r W on F a ir L ad y . T h is c r i t i c i s m w a s

a p p a ren tly e a r n e d b e c a u s e P o e found C r isp g u ilty o f e n t ir e ly m is c o n c e iv

in g the c h a r a c te r . H e p r o c e e d e d to p r o v e h is p o in t:

T h e S p an iard , a s d e s ig n e d by P la n c h e , i s a d a sh in g , a rd en t, c h iv a lr ic , c a v a l ie r , u rg ed to th e e x tr e m e a u d a c ity by th e m a d n e s s of h is p a s s io n , but p r e s e r v in g th rou gh a l l a tr u e d ig n ity , and th e m o s t u n c o m p r o m is in g r e s p e c t fo r th e lad y of h is lo v e . M r. C r isp m a k e s h im an im p u d en t t r i c k s t e r - - at t im e s ev e n a v u lg a r ch u ck lin g m o n te b a n k - -o c c a s io n a l ly a s im p e r in g buffoon . * ^

P o e w a s a ls o c o n c e r n e d w ith th e id e a .o f su s ta in in g a c h a r a c te r

and o b v io u s ly e s t e e m e d th is a s an a c t in g g o a l. T h e r e i s a ls o one r a n

dom c o m m e n t P o e m a d e w h ich m a y be in c lu d e d in h is r e m a r k s on a c t in g .

T h is o b s e r v a t io n p o in ted up h is c o n c e r n w ith v e r is im i l i t u d e - - t h i s t im e

in c h a r a c te r . H e b e r a te d an a c t r e s s fo r p la y in g a p r in c e s s and y e t

sp ea k in g and s te p p in g :" m o r e lik e a c h a m b e r m a id than a p r in c e s s " (p. 2 1 1 ).

T he m o r e o v e r t a s p e c t s of p r o d u c tio n d id not e s c a p e P o e 's

c r i t ic a l a tten tio n . In h is tr e a tm e n t of F a s h io n P o e m a d e an in te r e s t in g

c o m m en t on w hat m u st h a v e b een th e u su a l la c k of p o l is h fo r p r o d u c tio n s

in th at e r a o f few r e h e a r s a l s . • P o e s a id in h is r e v ie w that h e had m a d e

l ^ P o e , . "The D r a m a , " A u g u s t 2, 1845, lo c . c i t . , p . 211 .

29

" r e a so n a b le a llo w a n c e fo r in a d v e r ta n e e s a t th e o u t s e t - - l a p s e s of

m e m o r y in th e a c to r s - - e m b a r r a s s m e n t in s c e n e s h i f t in g - - in a w ord

14fo r g e n e r a l h e s ita t io n and w ant o f f in is h , " He e v e n p a r t ia l ly e x c u s e d

a s c e n e w h ich h e found p a r t ic u la r ly p o in t le s s on the g ro u n d s th at it

"m ig h t h a v e b een in tr o d u c e d fo r th e p u r p o se of g iv in g t im e fo r so m e

15o th er s c e n ic a r r a n g e m e n ts go in g on out of s ig h t , "

H e w a s l e s s under sta n d in g , h o w e v e r , in h is tr e a tm e n t of th e

ch o ru s in th e p ro d u ctio n o f A n tig o n e , T he on ly r e a s o n h e co u ld c o n

c e iv e fo r the " m is e r a b le w a y in w h ich the c h o r u s e s w e r e execu ted " *^

w a s that th e r e had not b een s u ff ic ie n t r e h e a r s a l or stu d y t im e , "But, "

a s s e r t e d P o e , " th is e x c u s e i s , a f te r a ll , no e x c u s e to th e p u b lic , " P o e

in s i s t e d th at th e p u b lic e x p e c te d to " w itn e ss a r e p r e s e n ta t io n a s n ea r

p e r fe c t a s the m e a n s e m p lo y e d w ou ld p e r m it , " In stea d , h o w e v e r , "A

la r g e n u m b er o f m en a r e p a ra d ed upon the s ta g e , s c a r c e ly one th ird o f

th em s in g in g c o r r e c t ly and th e o th er tw o th ir d s e ith e r do not s in g at a l l ,

17or vam p the w o r d s and m u s ic , " P o e w a s in to le r a n t of th is p e r f o r m

a n c e of th e c h o r u s and the c o m p le te la c k o f p o l is h the e n t ir e p r o d u ctio n

m u st h a v e e x h ib ite d ,

l^ E d g a r A lla n P oe,. " P r o s p e c ts o f th e D r a m a , " B ro a d w a y J o u rn a l, A p r il 5, 1845 , in H a r r iso n , C o m p le te W o rk s, ZjSL 124 .

1 5 p 0 e 9 "New C om ed y by M r s , M ow att, " lo c , c i t , , p» 121,

l^ P o e , "T he A n tig o n e a t P a lm o 's , " lo c , c i t , , p . I 34,

17I b id , , p, 135 ,

30

P o e w a s o b v io u s ly m o r e w il l in g to e x c u s e la c k o f f in is h in a

p ro d u ctio n h e g e n e r a l ly e s t e e m e d than one w h ich m e t h is d isa p p r o v a l.

N e v e r t h e le s s , h is c o m m e n ts s u g g e s t an a w a r e n e s s of a l l a s p e c t s of

p ro d u ctio n and a d e s ir e to s e e m o r e f in is h e d o v e r - a l l p e r fo r m a n c e s .

It i s s ig n if ic a n t that h e n o ted the u n fortu n ate r e s u lt s o f th e sh o r t

r e h e a r s a l or p r e p a r a t io n and a la c k of e n s e m b le p a r t ic u la r ly w ith th e

c h o r u s s in c e i t w a s not u n til tw o d e c a d e s la te r that th e G erm an. D uke

of Saxe-M einingeaa,, an in n o v a to r in th e M o d ern -th ea tre m o v e m e n t, w a s

to d is t in g u is h h is p r o d u c tio n s by len g th y r e h e a r s a ls , e n s e m b le p la y in g ,

and s t r ic t a tte n tio n to e v e r y d e ta il o f p ro d u ctio n .

T he p e r fo r m a n c e of A n t ig o n e - in s p ir e d P o e 's o n ly n o tew o rth y

c o m m e n ts on m u s ic in a th e a tr ic a l p r o d u c tio n . He p r e fa c e d h is r e m a r k s

s ta tin g , "The m o s t s in g u la r fe a tu r e in th e p e r fo r m a n c e i s , undoubted ly

th e a c co m p a n y in g m u s ic . 11 F r o m th at p o in t h e had o n ly h ig h e s t p r a is e

fo r M e n d e lsso h n w ho c o m p o se d th e m u s ic and w ho, P o e c la im e d , m u st

h a v e b een in s p ir e d w h en h e c o n c e iv e d th e p la n . ■ P o e v o ic e d c o m p le te

sym p a th y fo r th e d if f ic u lt ie s h e f e l t M e n d e lsso h n m u st h a v e en co u n tered :

" . . .. h is ow n n a tu ra l s ty le m u st b e abandoned , and th e c r a m p e d and

the u n m elo d io u s s y s te m of th e G r e e k u n iso n o u s s in g in g , a d o p te d .. To

p r e s e r v e th at d is t in c t iv e c h a r a c te r , and s t i l l r e n d e r m u s ic a c c e p ta b le

to e a r s , m u st h a v e ta x e d the u tm o st in g e n u ity o f th e c o m p o s e r .

18I b id . , p.- 134.

31

P o e w a s so im p r e s s e d w ith the m u s ic fo r A n tig o n e th at h e a m b it io u s ly

p r o p o se d to sp e a k of i t fu r th e r in a s e p a r a te p a p e r . U n fo r tu n a te ly , th e

e s s a y w a s n e v e r w r it te n .

. P o e c o n s id e r e d the m e c h a n ic a l s id e of p la y p r o d u c tio n fu r th e r

a d v a n ced than th e m o r e in t r in s ic e le m e n ts of th e a r t fo r m . T h is h e

a ttr ib u ted to th e fa c t th at th e r e w e r e g r e a te r u t il ita r ia n d em a n d s on the

te c h n ic a l a s p e c t s . P o e f e l t th at "Upon th e u t il ita r ia n a r t s , . . . w h e r e

n e c e s s i t y im p e ls , .in v e n tio n , n e c e s s i t y ' s w e ll -u n d e r s to o d o ffsp r in g i s .

19e v e r in a tte n d a n c e . " C o n seq u en tly , he b e lie v e d th at th e " m e c h a n ism s"

of th e d ram a w e r e m o r e p r o g r e s s iv e - b y th e ir n a tu re .

H e d e m o n str a te d l i t t le p a t ie n c e , h o w e v e r , w h en w hat he c o n

s id e r e d the v a s t o p p o r tu n itie s fo r in v e n tio n in th e a tr e w e r e n e g le c te d .

In a b r ie f ite m w h ich a p p e a r e d in h is " M arg in a lia" co lu m n h e m a d e a

c r i t ic a l o b se r v a t io n ab ou t th e te c h n ic a l a s p e c t s of A m e r ic a n th e a tr ic a l

p ro d u ctio n . . He m e n tio n e d a new s c e n ic te c h n ic a c h ie v e d by th e

G e r m a n s . B y o p t ic a l m e a n s th e G h ost of B anquo fro m M ac B eth a p p e a r e d

a s a sh ad ow y f ig u r e on th e s ta g e s e a te d in B an q u o1 s c h a ir . P o e s ta te d

th at th e e f fe c t w a s r e p o r te d ly in te n s e and th at h e d id not doubt that an

..A m erica n a u d ie n c e w o u ld b e e le c t r i f i e d by th e fe a t . . "But, " h e co n c lu d ed ,

"our m a n a g e r s not on ly h a v e no in v e n tio n of th e ir ow n, but no e n e r g y

■*•9 P o e , "The A m e r ic a n D r a m a , " l o c o c i t o , p . 120=

32

20to a v a il t h e m s e lv e s to that o f o th e r s . "

T he s ig n if ic a n c e of th e b o x ^ se t w h ich f i r s t a p p e a r e d in

A m e r ic a at the P a r k th e a tr e in 1841 d id not go u n d e te c te d by P o e .

In co m m e n tin g on the s u c c e s s of P a s h io n , he a ttr ib u te d a g r e a t p o r

tio n of th is to i t s u s e of "the v e r y c a r p e t s , th e v e r y o tto m a n s, the

v e r y c h a n d e lie r s , th e v e r y c o n s e r v a to r ie s th at g a in ed so d e c id e d a

21p o p u la r ity in „ . . th e London. A s s u r a n c e of B o u c ic a u lt . 11 P o e 's

s o l i t a r y c o m m e n t on th e b o x - s e t d id not r e v e a l h is a tt itu d e tow ard

th is in n o v a tio n in s ta g e se t t in g . H o w ev er , i t w ou ld s e e m fro m P o e 's

m o r e r e a l i s t i c co n cep t of d ram a that m o r e n a tu ra l and l i f e - l ik e s e t t in g s

w o u ld be r e q u ir e d and c o n se q u e n tly th at h e a p p ro v ed o f th is new tr e n d .

. A s id e fro m th e m o r e or l e s s s c a t t e r e d c o m m e n ts w h ich h a v e

b een m en tio n ed , P o e ' s c r i t i c i s m d id not c o n c e r n i t s e l f g r e a t ly w ith th e

p h y s ic a l r e p r e s e n ta t io n of th e d ra m a . H o w ev er , i t sh o u ld be n o ted

th at P o e w a s c e r ta in ly c o n v in c e d th a t p la y s w e r e in ten d ed to be p e r

fo r m e d on a s ta g e . T h is i s p a r t ic u la r ly s ig n if ic a n t s in c e P o e w as

w r it in g a t a t im e w h en th e s o -c a lle d : " c lo s e t d ram a , " a d ra m a in ten d ed

s o le ly fo r r ea d in g , w a s p o p u lar in l i t e r a r y c i r c l e s . . T h is fa v o r ite

fo rm of su ch p o e ts a s B row n in g ,. B a r r e t t , T en n y so n , and B y ro n w a s

not c o n s id e r e d le g it im a te by P o e . A s P o e s ta te d , " T h e re sh o u ld be no

2 0 E d g a r A lla n P o e , " M a rg in a lia , " "Stage E ffe c t , " S ou th ern L ite r a r y M e s s e n g e r .( A p r i l / 1846), in S ted m a n and W o o d b erry , W ork s,

• VII, . 392 .

2 1 p o e , . "New C o m ed y by M r s . M ow att, " lo c . c i t . , p. 120.

33

22su ch th in g s a s c lo se t -d r a m a s o " H e d efen d ed th is s ta te m e n t sa y in g ,

23"T he p r o o f o f th e d r a m a tiz a t io n i s th e c a p a c ity fo r r e p r e se n ta tio r u 11

W ith few e x c e p t io n s th is w a s the c r i t e r io n P o e u s e d fo r e v e r y p la y he

rev iew ed o - A n i l lu s tr a t io n of th is h a s b een p o in ted out by one c r i t ic in

P o e !s tr e a tm e n t of P ash ion o H e w r o te the f i r s t r e v ie w of th e p la y a fte ri

re a d in g a m a n u sc r ip t cop y se n t to h im by M r s . M ow att, S h o r tly t h e r e

a fte r h e saw th e p la y p e r fo r m e d and "found th a t m an y of h is im p r e s s io n s

r e c e iv e d fr o m rea d in g w e r e w ro n g , and w r o te a s e c o n d r e v ie w , c o r r e c t

ing h is f i r s t ju d g m en ts in th e lig h t o f s ta g e p e r fo r m a n c e . P o e a ls o

a p p lie d th e t e s t of p e r fo r m a n c e to L o n g fe llo w 1 s p la y T he S p a n ish S tudent

and co n c lu d ed th at i t " cou ld n ot be en d u red upon the s ta g e . " In ev en

s tr o n g e r t e r m s h e s ta te d th at " . . . i t i s l i t t le b e tte r th an a p la y upon

w o rd s to s ty le i f •A P la y 1 a t a l l .

P o e w a s un ique in th is so m ew h a t u n orth od ox a p p ro a ch to th e

d ra m a . Y et, s in c e th e c lo s e t d ra m a so o n p a s s e d out of v o g u e it w a s

a n o th er in s ta n c e w h e r e h is id e a s p r o v e d a h ea d o f th e ir t im e .

^ Q u o te d in P a r k s , op. c i t . , p . 69°

23I b id . , p . 70.

2^D e M ille , op . c i t . , p. 108 .

23P o e , " A m e r ic a n D ra m a , " lo c . c i t . , p. 73.

C H A P T E R HI

P O E ON DRAM ATIC ST R U C T U R E

T h e m o s t s ig n if ic a n t and su b s ta n tia l a s p e c t s of P o e 's d r a m a tic

c r i t ic i s m a r e p r e s e n t in th o se r e v ie w s w h ich exp ou n ded h is th e o r y o f

d r a m a tic c r a f ts m a n sh ip . H is id e a s on how th e d ra m a sh o u ld id e a l ly

be c o n s tr u c te d and h is d is c u s s io n of so m e e s s e n t ia l e le m e n ts o f d ra m a

su ch a s p lo t , ch a r a c te r ,, and la n g u a g e a r e c o n ta in e d in v a r io u s p a s s a g e s/

s c a t te r e d th rou gh ou t h is c r i t ic a l w o rk s on d ra m a . H o w ev er , h is e a r ly

e s s a y "T he A m e r ic a n D ra m a , " p u b lish e d in 1839 and r e p r in te d in 1845 ,

i s th e m o s t v a lu a b le s o u r c e fo r h is id e a s . In th is a r t ic le h e d e a lt w ith

tw o p la y s , W il l is ' T o r te s a , T h e U su r e r ,, and T h e S p a n ish S tudent by' i ' -

L o n g fe llo w , but s p e c if ie d th at h is o b je c t sh o u ld be u n d e rsto o d "not a s

th at of m e r e c o m m e n ta r y on th e in d iv id u a l p la y , but on th e d ra m a in

g e n e r a l. . . . " T h is e f fo r t r e p r e s e n t s h is m o s t c o m p r e h e n s iv e

c r i t ic a l w o r k on th e d ra m a . . H is id e a s a r e f a ir ly w e ll thought out and

m o r e c o m p le te than in o th e r r e v ie w s . O ften P o e 's id e a s sh o w ed

in s u f f ic ie n t thought: h e fr e q u e n tly s e e m e d to r e c o r d h is im p r e s s io n s

and f e e l in g s w ith ou t c o n s id e r in g the r a m if ic a t io n s of h is id e a s . H is

s e e m in g ly in n a te c r i t ic a l in t e l l ig e n c e le d h im to p rofou n d o b s e r v a t io n s ,

I p o e , " A m e r ic a n Drama., " lo c . c i t . , p.- 38.

34

35

and h e to u ch ed upon m a n y fu n d a m en ta l q u e s tio n s of d r a m a tic theory^

but th e r e i s an e lu s iv e quality, about th e s e w r it in g s . T h is ca n c e r ta in ly

be a ttr ib u ted to th e fa c t th at P o e w a s p r im a r i ly a m a g a z in e r e v ie w e r

and any c r i t i c a l th e o r y w a s an ad ju nct to th is . P o e e x p r e s s e d r e g r e t

th at h e d id n o t h a v e a d eq u a te s p a c e or t im e to d is c u s s so m e su b je c ts

in th e depth th ey r e q u ir e d . C e r ta in ly d ra m a w a s one of t h e s e .

. F o r P o e the d ra m a of h is day s u ffe r e d g r e a t ly .fr o m i t s u se of

w hat h e t e r m e d the S p a n ish -ty p e in tr ig u e p lo ts w h ich h e c o n s id e r e d "the

w o r s t a c tin g d ra m a in th e w o r ld . " He r e c o g n iz e d th e r e a s o n s p la y

w r ig h ts g a v e fo r u s in g su ch p lo ts a s b ein g to im p a r t d r a m a tic " action ,

b u s in e s s and v iv a c ity . " H o w ev er , th is w a s no e x c u s e to P o e who f e l t

th at " v iv a c ity , h o w e v e r i: d e s ir a b le , . . . i s d e a r ly p u r c h a s e d in d eed

w hen th e p r ic e , i s in te l l ig ib i l i ty " " ^ . 4 3 ).

P o e 's o p in io n s on p lo t w e r e su p p o r ted a s u su a l by th e d ic ta te s

of co m m o n s e n s e . A c c o r d in g to P o e an a u d ie n c e co u ld o n ly b e -fa tig u e d

by the m e n ta l e x e r t io n in v o lv e d in tr y in g to e s ta b lis h c o n n e c tio n or

r e la t io n s h ip am on g th e m u lt ifa r io u s in c id e n ts w h ich c o n s t itu te d th e

in tr ig u e p lo t s . He n o ted that, in fa c t , e v e n a rea d in g of th is typ e o f

p la y r e q u ir e d fre q u e n t r e r e a d in g and d em a n d ed long r e f le c t io n s fo r

c o m p r e h e n s io n . S in c e P o e c o n s id e r e d a l l d r a m a s a s a c tin g d ra m a s

2 P o e , "New C om ed y , " lo c . c i t . , p . 119°

3P o e , " A m e r ic a n D r a m a , " lo c . c i t . , p . 4 3 ,

36

h e d em an d ed o f p lo t o n ly th at w h ich w ou ld be " in sta n ta n eo u sly , ev id en t"

(p» 41 ) to a u d ie n c e s . It w a s on th e s e g ro u n d s that P o e b a s e d an o b je c

tio n in h is r e v ie w of T he S p a n ish S tu dent. L o n g fe llo w , b e s id e s b ein g

g u ilty of u s in g an in tr ig u e p lo t had co m p ou n d ed h is e r r o r by u sin g

n u m ero u s fo o tn o te s and r e f e r e n c e s to o th er w o r k s . T h is v io la te d

th e p r e c e p t that a p lo t sh o u ld not co n ta in an yth in g w h ich c o u ld not be

p e r c e iv e d q u ick ly and w ith ou t c o n fu s io n to s p e c ta to r s .

T he in c id e n t p ile d on in c id e n t fo r m u la w h ich w a s u se d by

d r a m a t is t s in c o n c o c tin g th e ir in tr ig u e d r a m a s did not p r o d u c e a p lo t ,

at a ll , a c c o r d in g to P o e . In th e sa m e r e v ie w h e m a d e th is p o in t

e x p lic it ly w hen he re m a r k e d ,. "A m e r e s u c c e s s io n of in c id e n ts , ev en

the m o s t sp ir ite d , w i l l no m o r e c o n s t itu te a p lo t, than a m u lt ip lic a t io n

of z e r o e s , e v e n the m o s t in f in ite , w i l l r e s u l t in the p r o d u c tio n o f a

unit!" (p . 4 4 ).

P o e did , h o w e v e r , a llo w fo r th e dram a of p lo t w h ic h c o n ta in ed

o b v io u s ly ir r e le v a n t or e p is o d ic in c id e n ts . A c c o r d in g to P o e an a u d i

e n c e w h en v ie w in g th is typ e o f p la y w ou ld im m e d ia te