Religion Essay

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Analysis of Rhetorical Considerations of Audience and Purpose
INTRODUCTION
The short story titled, “Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar” was authored by the renowned Edger Allan Poe and published in the December issue of 1845 in the monthly magazine, American Review (Warlock 236). The magazine published both fictitious and non-fictitious pieces of literature whereby this horrifying story met all the requirements; entailing descriptions of disease, death, and mesmerism.
Thesis Statement: The main intention of the author behind the literature is concerned with the inquisition and subsequent exploration of the inevitability of death in spite of the hypothetical developments within the realm of human pseudo-science.
AUDIENCE
The audience targeted for this literature were those that fall into the category of questioning readers. This fictitious account, with its medical jargons and technical terms (i.e., phthisis) augmented with discussions of technology and incorporation of disciplines of psychic surgery and hypnotism existed for the sole purpose to incite and excite those readers that harbored a prurient mind and a debating nature of the time. It was meant to appeal to those that question the science surrounding death and mystery while being adventurous enough to look for answers in the conservative Elizabethan society.
PURPOSE
The purpose of the short story, “Facts in the case of M. Valdemar” was to explore the dimensions of death under the effects of mesmerization and the duration by which these effects can retain their efficacy.

His primary intent was to publish an exaggerated and garbled account that would make its way into the society to yield unpleasant misrepresentations and garner a great deal of disbelief and curiosity.
GENRE
He already had a large following interested in his write-ups belonging to science fiction and detective fiction genre. The genre of this piece was meant to supplement his existing strengthens and renown; published as a pure science fiction write-up while being portrayed as a genuine study under the guise of scientific pseudo – jargon and the prevalent magnetic influence of mesmerism. Though the genre of science fiction had not cemented by that time, this novel constitutes many elements that do characterize the study in the aforementioned category. Examples from the text that highlight the fictitious nature of the genre of this literature include, “profuse outflowing of a yellowish ichor” & “unequivocal signs of mesmeric influences” as well as “death or what is usually termed as death” (Poe 4). Therefore, Mr. Edgar Articulo Mortis about mesmerism illustrated the fictional depiction of the presiding dangerous science of the time.
CONCLUSION
Deeply influenced by Dr. Mesmer, and inspired by Dr. Doane’s work on magnetic sleep surgery, Mr. Edgar tells a story about a doctor’s fascinations and experience with mesmerism. The literature follows the doctor and notes the observations pertaining to his account of the ordeals experienced with a dying patient. As the patient approaches close to destined demise, he is put into a state of hypnosis whereby he is in a static state unable to feel pain. A day after this experiment, he was found dead in the morning. During his burial, he responds from his casket to answer the questions asked of him right before his death. This resulted in the amazed doctor’s attempts to try to wake him up, only to be evaporated in a resulting loathsome mass of liquid seven months later.
Remembered as the greatest of Mr. Edgar’s hoaxes, he was incredibly successful in toying around with the dominant ideas of medical and psychological investigation to such a degree that he had to subside the fervor of reaction received with the aid of an accountability letter drafted in 1846, a year after its publication.
Works Cited
Poe, E. A. P. The Facts in The Case of M. Valdemar: Short Story. Canada: Harper Collins, 2004, Print.
Warlock, A. H. P. Companion to Literature: Facts on File Companion to the American Short Story. New York City, N.Y: Infobase Publishing, 2009. Print.