Review: The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar by Edgar Allan Poe

 

Name: The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar

Author: Edgar Allan Poe

Review:

Can you imagine if you could pause death or the effects of death with hypnosis? Well, that is what happens in this story.

We have the protagonist who tells us the truth about Mr. Valdemar's case.

It turns out that Valdemar was an acquaintance of the protagonist, who was in his last days of life due to an illness. Upon receiving the protagonist's proposal to hypnotize him on his deathbed, the old man does not hesitate and accepts quite enthusiastically.

Of course, the results surprise everyone.

I was very much struck by a part where old Valdemar, already hypnotized, emits a sound that is not normal at all, that is, imagine, the man is there, in his bed, "dead/hypnotized", with his mouth wide open, and emits moans that give the sensation of coming from a very distant place.

Something very strange happened to me with this story. The first time I read it I thought it was one of Poe's best, but now, after several years, it didn't give me the same feeling.

Although I still find it good, the terror and curiosity I felt at the beginning was no longer the same.

However, I think it is because I read two translations, the first one had more details, it was more touching and expressive; on the other hand, this one was more direct.

Poe is one of my favorite writers, I intend to reread several of his stories to express my opinion about him. So I'll be saturating you with him for a while haha.

Have you read Poe?

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