Edgar Allen Poe upholds his reputation for creepy, but interesting short stories in creating The Facts in the Case of M.Valdemar. The story presents the debate of a difference between body and soul. The text is questioning whether the human body holds a deeper meaning than just a creation of a scientific miracle, or a shell of a person's inner self. In response to close reading, the perception gathered is that the soul is an eternal force that is housed inside a mortal frame. Reasoning for the humanistic makeup only being a shell comes from contrast in the abilities of the body with the voice, a dark mood throughout the story, and the structure of the text.

For instance, the struggle with spiritual aspects of a human is shown with the precision in which the hypnotist is able to control the body, but battled by the unexpected emotions of the soul. In the attempts to ask questions to the patient the body is not able to voice the answers of the inner presence. Even in Valdemar's terminal state, his soul was still evident while his physical functions were heavily depleted. In the span of seven months the dead mans soul still rages on giving a supernatural feel to the text. The collective time brings up the notion of the soul being trapped inside of the body. Speaking when spoken to, the soul gives a timeline of Valdemar's health. With the voice updating his state constantly, for example saying, "I have been sleeping   and now   now   I am dead." (Poe 27) With the statement of the body being dead, the test and observations are continued. The soul is now not able to rest in peace, trapped between being awake and permanently sleep. The restless state is shown by the last quotes "For God's sake!   quick!   quick!   put me to sleep   or, quick!   waken me!   quick!   I say to you that I am dead!" (29) Valdemar's incessant pleading to have a conclusion to the experiment in either life, or death with no preference shows the extreme sufferance of the soul.  In observing the text in the earlier stages, Valdemar is content, and accepting to the fact that the end is approaching rapidly. When "P" introduces the idea of hypnosis, Valdemar's demeanor changes to an upbeat, and somewhat eager state to begin the experiment. Showing in the beginning how he knows that death is approaching, and his body is in no shape to put up a fight. Then when hope becomes involved his soul is persistent in searching for a way to go on.

Another interesting feature I picked up on while close reading was the secretive tone of the text. Matters of the case were done in private and only information prevalent to the health of the patient was included in the record. The title is structured to be viewed in a profession light, and to be taken as fact. Considering the setting of these events, the level of secrecy gives way to the notion that the testing was more so hidden for protection of the contributors and not of the patient. Attempts at confidentiality were proven futile as the public got a glimpse into the matters concerning the case. Stated in the admittance of the narrator "through our endeavors to effect this   a garbled or exaggerated account made its way into society." (22) With the introduction projecting the feeling of a well-known incident that everyone reader of this case should be familiar with. As the reading goes on there are never any direct names used besides Valdemar.  The narrator and his participants benefit greatly from the decision not to disclose such information. Seeing that the word did get out to the public, opinions of the actions can not be directed at one person because of the names being unknown. Seeing how they freely use Valdemar's name resembles how they treated his body. Earlier in the reading the voice from with says " Yes   asleep now. Do not wake me!   let me die so!" (27) Even when the soul requests to sleep they continue the trials and test on the body.  

In the perspective of the author not clearly stating his name in the writing, Poe reminds me of another text " Death of the Author ".  This writing by Roland Barthes implies that the absence of the author in a text will show it is true importance through the imagination of the reader. Poe could have pulled the reader in by inserting himself openly in the story as the narrator, but instead of drawing attention he pushes the attention solely on Valdemar. So while reading, the focus is not centered on another great short story from Edgar Allen Poe, but instead a riveting story of a dying patient tight roping the line of life and death. This gives the reader a greater chance of creating his or her own interpretation, rather relying completely on the perspective of the author. My analysis of the text drove me to question how much of the case is actually factual. As the introduction paragraph ends there is one sentence before the next paragraph. It reads, " It is now rendered necessary that I give the facts   as far as I comprehend them myself." (22) From here on, the writing is presented on the comprehension of the narrator, which can vary from viewpoint. This continues to the point where the viewpoint is in a way, switched to the angle of a colleague taken notes of the actions of the narrator. These notes were "for the most part, either condensed or copied verbatim." (25) These specific words leave a ton of room for questioning. If something is condensed what parts are left out? What parts are condensed, and what is verbatim? If the "most part" is a selection of one of the two, is the rest just the judgment of whoever is writing? This brings an element to the story where the skepticism of the public is warranted by the lack of concrete explanation. Being able to notice the scarcity of clarification pushes the reader to make their own choices or at least take note of the options for creating a meaning. 

As well as generating meaning, through structure and obscurity Poe is able to contradict the format with the content. He uses organization through intervals of time, job titles, context of character backgrounds, and an opening with the intention of graining attention. Combined with the refusal of listing names, and claiming facts while negating them just as fast. These examples bring in a new dimension in the writing and opening the mind to multiple translations. These methods assist in widening the range of the text and making it more dynamic than a prototypical story with a beginning, middle, and end. Edgar is also able to present a controversial topic in a surreptitious manner. The detail in action focuses on the scene instead of the overall situation. He made a topic of separation of soul and body, and the question of a soul in general, into a captivating short story. 

In conclusion, the impression made is that the human body is a casing for our individual souls. The result is backed through the contrasts in actions of the vocal spirit and the more static body. Also accompanied by a mysterious mood that speaks volumes to the somewhat controversial debate of afterlife. The structure of the text ties all of the aspects together in the word choice and set up of paragraphs. 

