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Doubles and Binaries
“The Purloined Letter” structures its action and characters around doubles and binaries. Most prominently, Dupin and Minister D–– are doubles of each other, both analytical geniuses. While Dupin uses his genius to solve mysteries, the unprincipled Minister D–– uses his to cause chaos. In addition, the action of the story is predicated on the switch of two letters. When Minister D–– steals the royal lady’s letter, he does so by swapping it for one of his own. Dupin rights this wrong by repeating the action, swapping the letter for a counterfeit. In addition, the story follows two different kinds of investigations. The police conduct an investigation based on their own experience, thoroughly searching common hiding places. Dupin, however, assesses the situation using analysis, and he figures out where the letter must be by considering where Minister D–– is likely to hide the letter. Finally, Dupin explores the supposed binary between the mind of a mathematician and the mind of a poet. While the prefect sees these instincts as incompatible, Dupin proves that a person with both abilities has a superior mind.
Vision and Seeing
The mystery in “The Purloined Letter” largely centers on how a person looks at a situation, by zooming in close or seeing the entire picture at once. As such, Poe includes a lot of sight imagery throughout the story. When the prefect approaches Dupin with the case, Dupin states that it’s best to consider new matters for reflection in the dark, presumably to not get distracted by details. That is, Dupin believes he sees the matter clearer without seeing too much. Minister D–– is described as having a lynx-eye, keen and discerning. Not only is he able to see the letter, but he can also assess the opportunity he has to steal it. The police search Minister D––’s apartment using a microscope, which in this case is more of the classic detective’s magnifying glass, allowing them to look even closer. When Dupin meets with Minister D––, he describes his search as his eyes “going the circuit of the room,” emphasizing his focus on the big picture. Each character’s method of looking at or examining a situation within the story completely changes how he sees the situation, and thus how he makes his move to hinder or solve the case.
Secrets
The complete secrecy surrounding every aspect of the mystery gives the situation a sense of dire importance. The prefect is at first hesitant to give Dupin any information or be more specific, it’s implied, because to do so could threaten national stability and security. Within the affair, the royal lady (presumably the Queen) has a secret she is keeping from another royal person (presumably the King), and the revelation of this secret could threaten her safety. The exact contents of the letter are left secret to all. The danger surrounding both of these facts is so great that the prefect refuses to specifically mention that he is speaking of the King and Queen, instead couching this fact in covert language. We as the audience are further kept in the dark about the full name of the prefect or even that of dastardly Minister D––. Furthermore, the police must conduct their investigations in secret, waiting until Minister D–– leaves his apartments to search them, and even pretending to be highwaymen to search him. The inability to directly approach anything about the theft of the letter highlights what a delicate situation it is, with political stakes far greater than one would anticipate the theft of a single letter being.
