Welcome to episode three of our short story series. In this episode, we take a trip through the intense, gothic short story “The System of Doctor Tarr and Professor Fether” by Edgar Allan Poe. Published posthumously in 1856, the story prompts us to ask, “have we given away our responsibility to think for ourselves?” Poe’s protagonist, an unnamed “young man” traveling through France, experiences a confusing scenario in a private insane asylum seemingly headed up by a “Dr. Maillard.” Decades before the term gaslighting was ever used, Poe’s short story illustrated how someone could be manipulated into questioning their own senses, beliefs, and reality.
Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849) was best known for macabre and mysterious short stories and poems. He was an American writer, poet, editor, and literary critic, widely regarded as a central figure of Romanticism in U.S. literature.
Discussion Points:
- Jessica was not a big fan of Poe previously
- Gaslighting – the word’s origins and meanings today
- Poe’s gothic story setting – a private asylum in France in the 1800s
- Treating ‘mania’ - Dr. Maillard’s protocol
- Questioning Maillard and his gaslighting response
- The increasingly alarming behaviors of the ‘staff’ at dinner
- We should heed Poe’s message - judge for ourselves what’s going on in the world
- Re-read the story yourself with the link below
Resources:
Read the Story ‘The System of Doctor Tarr and Professor Fether
Gaslight - Story of the 1938 Play and subsequent productions
“Madding Crowd” Reference: Tréguer, Pascal. “Meaning and Origin of ‘Far From the Madding Crowd.’” Word Histories, 12 Sept. 2016, wordhistories.net/2016/09/12/far-from-the-madding-crowd
Popular Podcasts
Fudd Around And Find Out
UConn basketball star Azzi Fudd brings her championship swag to iHeart Women’s Sports with Fudd Around and Find Out, a weekly podcast that takes fans along for the ride as Azzi spends her final year of college trying to reclaim the National Championship and prepare to be a first round WNBA draft pick. Ever wonder what it’s like to be a world-class athlete in the public spotlight while still managing schoolwork, friendships and family time? It’s time to Fudd Around and Find Out!
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.