The Premature Burial

Analyzing “The Premature Burial” through the lens of Gothic literature provides context for understanding Poe’s use of suspense, horror, and psychological terror.

Gothic literature can be traced to the 1764 publication of Horace Walpole’s The Castle of Otranto, which is often considered the first Gothic novel. The genre reached its height of popularity in the 19th century with works such as Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, Bram Stoker’s Dracula, and Edgar Allan Poe’s short stories. Gothic literature often features haunted castles, gloomy landscapes, and mysterious figures, and it delves into themes such as death, the supernatural, and the struggle between good and evil.

“The Premature Burial” incorporates many of these elements, such as accounts of premature burial and the protagonist’s fascination with death, including his vivid dreams and visions. Additionally, the story’s dark and foreboding tone creates an atmosphere of fear and dread that intensifies as the protagonist’s fear of premature burial becomes more pronounced.

Poe’s use of psychological terror is another hallmark of Gothic literature. The protagonist’s obsession with being buried alive reflects the anxieties of the time about the possibility of being declared dead prematurely. Poe builds tension by describing the protagonist’s nightmares and vivid imaginings of being trapped in a coffin. This fear is heightened when the protagonist’s worst nightmare becomes a reality, as he mistakenly thinks he has been buried alive.

The protagonist’s fear of premature burial was not entirely unfounded, as medical techniques had not yet advanced enough to determine death with the certainty that is possible today. The fear of being buried alive was so widespread that, as in Poe’s story, safety coffins were invented; these had an attached bell that the buried person could ring in case they regained consciousness.