The first signs of hypnosis are not seen until the mid-18th century when they were developed by Franz Anton Mesmer. For the next seventy five years the act of mesmerism only had one use, to attempt to heal the medically disabled.  Although the majority of hypnotists today would say that the science of magnetism was made popular by other famous hypnotists, such as Franz Anton Mesmer, Charles Poyen, and William J. Bryan Jr., I would argue that Edgar Allen Poe had the most influence in its development. “The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar” is one of the first, most popular examples of hypnosis being used not for medical developments, but for pure entertainment for his audience.

Poe’s short story “The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar” is about a man named M. Ernest Valdemar who is in the process of dying from phthisis, commonly known as tuberculosis. The mesmerist, who is only referred to as P- in the short story, is attempting to put Valdemar into a “sleep” opposed to dying an uncomfortable death. This is a typical, and realistic example of a reason as to why hypnosis might be attempted in the 1840’s, when the story was first published in a magazine. Poe also uses many scientific words and phrases in his story. For example, he uses the term “articulo mortis.”  The average reader would not be aware of the fact that this complicated italicised phrase refers to the state of being at the point of death, without looking it up. When describing Valdemar’s current medical state P- says “The left lung had been for eighteen months in a semi-osseous or cartilaginous state, and was, of course, entirely useless for all purposes of vitality. The right, in its upper portion, was also partially, if not thoroughly ossified, while the lower region was merely a mass of purulent tubercles, running one into another” (68). Only a doctor would describe failing lungs in this extensive manor. Poe also excessively refers to the time at which changes occur and the amount of time that has passed. Some of the time-oriented phrases include “intervals of half a minute” (69) “five minutes before eleven” (69) “at ten o’clock” (69) and “within the space of a single minute” (73). By including scientific terminology, anatomically rich sentences, and excessive time references, Poe makes his story more scientific. The more scientifically correct “The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar” is, the more believable the story is for the readers. By making the storyline so realistic, Poe is able to intrigue his audience.

Poe introduced an entirely new style of writing for Americans. Romanticism had already been brought to parts of Europe, but Poe was a crucial author who helped to bring it to the United States. Romanticism focusses on the characters’ emotions to affect the reader’s feelings towards the story. Romanticism added more obvious nuance to stories of its time period.  “The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar” is a great example of a short story from the Romantic Period.  The reader can get a strong sense of the Romanticism in the story in one of the last paragraphs when it states:

There was an instant return of the hectic circles on the cheeks; the tongue quivered, or rather rolled violently in the mouth (although the jaws and lips remained rigid as before;) and at length the same hideous voice which I have already described, broke forth: ‘For God’s sake!-quick!-quick!-put me to sleep-or quick!-waken me!-quick!-I say to you that I am dead!’ (73)

 This incredibly dramatic sentence draws in the reader’s full attention by portraying an intense mood causing suspense.  Readers of the Romantic Period were entertained by this new, contrasting style of writing Poe was creating because of the emotion found within the text and its undeniable nuance.

“The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar” was originally published in a magazine. On December 20th, 1845 the short story was published in an issue of the American Review: A Whig Journal and a few months later was published in Broadway Journal, Spirit of the Times, and several other successful magazines throughout the United States and Europe. When it first came out, a huge controversy was started over if the short story was a non-fictional work of literature or if it was just a hoax. Poe received much satisfaction through this debate and he let the controversy spread for a few weeks before claiming it to be a hoax. However, the editor of the American Review was the first to address the subject by saying that “Whoever thought it a veracious recital must have the bump of faith large, very large indeed.” Poe has addressed the subject saying “Hoax is precisely the word suited for M. Valdemar’s case”. Although Edgar Allen Poe has made it very clear to his readers that this story is just another example of one of his hoaxical works, many of his followers, to this day, believe it is a true story of one of his experiences. This persistence of the truthfulness that may be found in the story is a great example to prove how Poe’s scientific-style of writing contributes to his readers portraying it in the realistic way that he intended.

“The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar” successfully entertains its audience. Poe effectively entertains his readers by using scientific words and phrases to make the story appear to be factual, by using a new, dramatic style of writing and by keeping his audience questioning the fiction within the story. Poe’s objective is not necessarily to inform his readers about mesmerism and what it can do, but to entertain his readers by intriguing them about mesmerism and making them want to know more on the subject. Poe’s three stories on mesmerism were the first examples of mesmerism being used to entertain an audience, the readers, opposed to just being used to contribute to scientific discoveries in the medical field or in the Church.

Mesmerism started to spread throughout the United States during the nineteenth century.  There was a huge spike in the number of mesmerist in the United States from 1848 to 1855. During this sudden spike of interest, hypnosis developed from not only being used for science but to being used to entertain an audience, such as how Poe uses it to attract his readers. During this peak of mesmerism, mesmerists could make a living by touring around the states and putting on shows for their intrigued viewers. Edgar Allen Poe’s first short story about mesmerism was published in 1843 and he died not long after, in 1849. It only makes sense that the cause of this spike in interest in hypnosis and its progressively contemporary performances were a result of the captivating author, Edgar Allen Poe’s works and his sudden fascination with the topic of mesmerism.  
