Why did edgar allen poe write the short story "The Business Man"

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Why did he write "The Business Man"? How can you read and understand "The Business Man"?

-- Anonymous, January 31, 2005

Answers

Poe often wrote satires and "Diddling" is the more known of his stories about fraudulent "businessmen" or cons. Like the madman in "The Tell-Tale Heart" the narrator is the opposite of how he sees himself- an unimaginative methodical businessman. All his examples are escalating forays into cheap dodges, cons and manipulations. He keeps decrying genius and other aqulaities as any true businessman would do- then launches into creative petty crimes against businesses in particular. He credits this- seriously grateful- to his Irish nurse braining him in his formative years.

Poe is obviously having his fun with starchy concepts and walks of life in fact opposing his own comical genius against the humdrum and respectable while claiming just the opposite. This the champion of the little guy style of humor, Robin Hood against the establishment. He does it against the literary cricles, the publishers, the politicians, the philosophers or any other established powers he can ridicule.

-- Anonymous, February 04, 2005


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