Minister D.: Dupin's Equal in Understanding the Human Mind

The Concept of Alter Egos in Poe's Short Stories

In Edgar Allan Poe's short stories, the concept of alter egos often appears. Minister D., a character in"The Purloined Letter" serves as the criminal counterpart to Dupin, a detective who typically operates within the law.

Dupin's Recognition of the Similarity

Dupin acknowledges the resemblance between himself and Minister D., referring to him as"that monstrum horrendum, an unprincipled man of genius" He delights in outwitting the Minister in a battle of intellect.

The Fake Letter and the Greek Mythological Reference

In a fake letter left for Minister D., Dupin includes a quote about the Greek brothers Atreus and Thyestes. Thyestes's adultery with Atreus's wife leads to Atreus's revenge, in which he kills and cooks Thyestes's sons and feeds them to their father. The quote suggests that while Atreus committed a grave wrong, Thyestes bears equal or greater responsibility for initiating the feud.

The Letter as a Literary Device

Despite the extensive discussion surrounding the whereabouts of the letter in"The Purloined Letter" the letter itself serves primarily as a literary device around which Poe constructs a game of wits. Its contents and political implications are omitted because they are not essential to the plot.

The Minister's Careless Hiding of the Letter

When Dupin eventually locates the letter, he discovers that the Minister has carelessly placed it in a rack hanging from the fireplace, folded inside-out to make it appear insignificant. The manner in which the letter is hidden is crucial to the story, but its trivial appearance reflects its relative unimportance in the novel.

The Irony of the Letter's Contents

It is ironic that after all the commotion surrounding the letter, its contents remain unknown to both the fictional characters and the readers. This highlights the letter's function as a literary device rather than a plot-driving element.