The Purloined Letter Group

Question:

mizz
mizz
Student
College - Junior

In "The Purloined Letter," why does Dupin replace the real letter with a facsimile?

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Posted by mizz on Monday November 10, 2008 at 2:53 PM and tagged with dupin, letter, plot, the purloined letter, themes.

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  1. linda-allen Teacher
    High School - 10th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    The narrator of Poe's story asks the same question:

    “But what purpose had you,” I asked, “in replacing the letter by a facsimile? Would it not have been better, at the first visit, to have seized it openly, and departed?”

    Dupin's answer is that if he had done as the narrator suggests and openly takes the letter, he would have put himself in danger. By leaving a copy of the letter, he has an advantage over the suspect, Minister D---. The suspect has no idea that anyone besides himself and the queen know what is written in the letter. He believes he can continue controlling her through blackmail. Dupin says that Minister D--- will trap himself:

    ...being unaware that the letter is not in his possession, he will proceed with his exactions as if it was. Thus will he inevitably commit himself, at once, to his political destruction.

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    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/purloined-letter-text/the-purloined...
    http://www.enotes.com/purloined-letter/characters
    http://www.enotes.com/purloined-letter/summary

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    Posted by linda-allen on Thursday November 13, 2008 at 5:47 PM