About Story
“The Oval Portrait” by Edgar Allan Poe is a short horror story that explores the relationship between art and life. It was first published in 1842 under the title “Life in Death” in Graham’s Magazine1. The story is about a wounded narrator who takes shelter in an abandoned chateau / mansion and becomes fascinated by a portrait of a young girl in a niche of the room. He reads a book that tells the tragic story of how the girl’s husband, an eccentric painter, became so obsessed with capturing her likeness that he neglected her health and caused her death. The story is one of Poe’s shortest and reflects his theory that the death of a beautiful woman is the most poetical topic in the world1. The story also belongs to the Romantic period, which emphasized individuality, emotion, and nature over reason and logic.About Author
Edgar Allan Poe was an American writer, poet, editor, and literary critic who is best known for his poetry and short stories, particularly his tales of mystery and the macabre12. He was born in Boston on January 19, 1809, and was orphaned at an early age. He was taken in by John and Frances Allan of Richmond, Virginia, but never formally adopted. He attended the University of Virginia and the United States Military Academy, but did not graduate from either. He married his 13-year-old cousin, Virginia Clemm, in 1836, but she died of tuberculosis in 1847. He struggled with poverty, alcoholism, and depression throughout his life. He died in Baltimore on October 7, 1849, under mysterious circumstances.Poe is widely regarded as a central figure of Romanticism in the United States, and of American literature. He was one of the country’s earliest practitioners of the short story, and is considered the inventor of the detective fiction genre, as well as a significant contributor to the emerging genre of science fiction. He also developed a theory of poetry as the rhythmical creation of beauty. Some of his most famous works include “The Raven”, “The Fall of the House of Usher”, “The Tell-Tale Heart”, “The Cask of Amontillado”, “The Murders in the Rue Morgue”, and “The Oval Portrait”.
Setting
The story is set in an old and deserted chateau (बंगला) in the Apennines, a mountain range in Italy. The chateau is described as a gloomy and grand place, with bizarre architecture and rich decorations. The room where the narrator stays is filled with paintings and tapestries, creating a contrast between art and reality. The portrait of the wife is hidden in a niche of the room, which adds to its mystery and allure.Characters
The story has four characters: the narrator, Pedro, the painter, and the wife. The narrator is a wounded man who takes shelter in a chateau and becomes fascinated by a portrait. Pedro is his valet, who helps him settle in the room. The painter is a talented and obsessed artist who paints a portrait of his wife. The wife is a beautiful and obedient woman who dies while sitting for her husband.The narrator: The narrator is a wounded man who takes shelter in an old and deserted chateau. He is a curious and imaginative person, who is interested in art and literature. He becomes fascinated by a portrait of a young girl in a niche of the room, and reads a book that tells the tragic story behind it. He is sympathetic and respectful towards the painter and his wife, and does not judge or criticize them. He is also a passive and detached observer, who does not reveal much about himself or his situation. He does not interact with anyone except his valet, Pedro, who helps him settle in the room. He does not express any emotion or opinion about the story he reads, and ends the story by saying: “And I said no more.”
Pedro: Pedro is the narrator’s valet, who accompanies him to the chateau. He is a loyal and helpful servant, who cares for his master’s wound and comfort. He does not share his master’s curiosity or fascination with the paintings or the book. He does not speak or appear much in the story, except at the beginning and the end. He is a minor and flat character, who serves as a contrast to the narrator’s interest and involvement in the story.
The painter: The painter is a talented and famous artist, who paints a portrait of his wife. He is a passionate and obsessive person, who cares more about his art than anything else in the world. He becomes so absorbed in his work that he neglects his wife’s health and causes her death. He does not realize what he has done until he finishes his masterpiece, and then he is shocked and horrified by his loss. He is a complex and tragic character, who represents the theme of art and life, and the consequences of sacrificing one for the other.
The wife: The wife is a beautiful and obedient woman, who loves and marries a painter of great skill and fame. She agrees to sit for him in his turret chamber, out of love and obedience. She sits meekly for many weeks, while her husband works tirelessly on his masterpiece. She smiles on and still on, uncomplainingly, until she dies. She does not speak or act much in the story, except to smile and sigh. She is a simple and pitiful character, who represents the theme of beauty and death, and the contrast between life and death, art and reality.
Short Summary
The story is about a wounded narrator who takes shelter in an abandoned chateau and becomes fascinated by a portrait of a young girl in a niche of the room. He reads a book that tells the tragic story of how the girl’s husband, an eccentric painter, became so obsessed with capturing her likeness that he neglected her health and caused her death.The story explores the relationship between art and life, and the consequences of sacrificing one for the other. It also reflects Poe’s theory that the death of a beautiful woman is the most poetical topic in the world. The story creates a sense of horror and mystery through its Gothic setting, its use of suspense and foreshadowing, and its ambiguous ending.
नेपालीमा सारांश (Summary in Nepali)
साँझको समयमा नाम नभएका एक जना घाइते वक्ता आफ्नाे नाेकर पेड्रोसँग एउटा पहाडकाे फेदमा रहेकाे बंगलामा पुग्छन् जाे बर्षाैदेखि खाली थियाे । उनीहरु जवरजस्ती उक्त बंगलाभित्र पस्छन् । उक्त बंगला पुरानाे त थियो तर एकदमै सजिसजावटयुक्त थियो । पेड्रोले मैनवत्ती सल्काउँछ । रातकाे समयमा मधुरो मैनबत्तीको प्रकाशमा उनीहरु एउटा काेठामा जान्छन् जहाँ धेरै पेन्टिंगहरु सुनाैला फ्रेममा सजाएर भित्ताभरी अड्याइएको हुन्छ । वक्तालाई पेड्रोले खाटमा ल्याएर राखिदिन्छ । त्यहाँ वक्ताले सिरानीनेर एउटा सानाे किताब भेट्छ जहाँ ती काेठामा भएका पेन्टिंगहरुकाे बारेमा लेखिएको हुन्छ ।
उसले रातभरी त्यो किताब पढेर विताउने साेच गर्छ किनभने घाउ लागेकोले उसलाई निन्द्रा छैन । उसले पेड्रोलाई झ्याल बन्द गर्न भन्छ र क्यान्डेलब्रम (मैनबत्तीहरुको समूह) बाल्न भन्छ । उ अब किताब पढ्न सुरु गर्छ । उसको नाेकर पेड्रो भने भुइँमा सुत्छ र निदाउँछ । उक्त किताबमा प्रत्येक चित्रहरुको बारे तीनको कहानी र विशेषता वर्णन गरिएको थियाे जसले वक्तालाई झन झन चाख बढाउँदै लैजान्छ । यतिकैमा एउटा पेन्टिंगमा मैनबत्तीकाे प्रकाश नपरेकाे वक्ताले पाउँछ र उसले क्यान्डेलब्रम आफुनजिक तान्छ तब उसले त्यहाँ अण्डाकार सुनाैलाे फ्रेममा यति धेरै सुन्दर केटी जो आफ्नो याैवनावस्थामा प्रवेश गर्न लागेकी हुन्छिन् उसको पेन्टिंग देख्छ जबकी त्यस्तो सुन्दर पेन्टिंग उसले कहिल्यै देखेको थिएन, मानाैँ त्यो पेन्टिंग नभएर कुनै जिवित केटी उक्त फ्रेमभित्र छ ।
उसले आफ्नो आँखा चिम्लिन्छ कतै उ भ्रममा वा सपनामा त छैन भनेर । उसले आँखा खाेल्छ तर त्यो पेन्टिंग साँच्चै नै सुन्दर र जिवित जतिकै थियो । उक्त चित्रका प्रत्येक विवरण (Details) यति मिहिन ढंगले कोरिएका थिए कि उक्त पेन्टिंग चित्र नभएर कुनै वास्तविक महिला नै उक्त फ्रेमभित्र रहेको आभाष हुन्थ्यो । वक्तालाई उक्त चित्रको बारेमा थाहा पाउन एकदमै काैतुहलता बढ्छ र उ हतारहतार उक्त किताबमा त्यो चित्रको बारेमा खाेज्न सुरु गर्छ ।
उक्त चित्रको कथा यस्तो हुन्छः (उक्त किताबबाट)
यो चित्र एक अत्यन्त्यै सुन्दर स्त्रीको हुन्छ जसले एउटा अत्यन्त्यै कुशल र प्रख्यात चित्रकारसँग विवाह गरेकी हुन्छिन् । उ आफ्नाे चित्रकारितालाई यति प्रेम गर्छ कि उसलाई चित्रकलाबाहेक अरु केहीको पनि मतलब लाग्दैन । एकदिन उसले आफ्नी सुन्दर श्रीमतीको पेन्टिंग बनाउने साेच्छ र उनलाई चित्र बनाउने ठाउँमा लैजान्छ र अगाडी राखेर चित्र बनाउन थाल्छ ।
उनी आफ्नो पतिप्रतिको प्रेम र आदरभावको कारण उसको अगाडी हलचल नगरी बसिदिन राजी हुन्छिन् र हलचल नगरी नै बसिरहन्छिन् । दिन बित्दै जान्छ, चित्रकारले उक्त कोठामा कसैलाई छिर्न पनि दिँदैन । उ उनको चित्र बनाउन यति मग्न हुन्छ कि उसलाई उनको अवस्थाको बारेमा पनि केही मतलब हुँदैन । उसको आँखाले पेन्टिंगको लागी चाहिने उनका Details मात्रै देख्छन् उनी कमजाेर भएर पहेँलिदै गएको देख्दैनन् । उनी पनि उनको पतिको सामु मुस्कुराएर बसिरहन्छिन् विना परवाह आफ्नो कमजाेरीको ।
चित्रकार केही कुराको ध्यान नराखी मात्रै उनको त्यो पेन्टिंगलाई अन्तिम रुप दिन तल्लीन हुन्छ । उ यति मग्न हुन्छ कि उसले आफ्नी श्रीमतीले प्राण त्यागेको र प्राण त्याग्दै गर्दा अन्तिम सास फेरेको समेत थाहा पाउँदैन । जब उसले चित्र बनाएर सक्छ तब उक्त क्यानभासमा हेरेर भन्छ, "अहाे यो त साँच्चै जिवित छ ।" तब उ आफ्नी श्रीमती तर्फ हेर्छ, जहाँ उसले उनी मरिसकेको पाउँछ । उसले यसरी उनको जीवनको बली उक्त चित्र बनाउँनको खातिर चढाउँछ ।
यो कथाको अन्त्य वक्ताको, "अब मलाई केही भन्नु छैन" भन्ने भनाइबाट हुन्छ । जसलाइ वक्ताले किन भनेका हुन् त्यो उल्लेख छैन । उक्त चित्रकार र उसकी श्रीमतीको कथाले वक्तामा कस्तो प्रभाव परेको हो त्यो पनि प्रष्ट रुपमा उल्लेख गरिएको छैन ।
Longer Plot Summary
The story begins with an unnamed narrator who has been wounded and seeks refuge in an old and deserted chateau in the Apennines. He is accompanied by his valet, Pedro, who helps him settle in one of the rooms. The room is decorated with tapestries, armorial trophies, and paintings in golden frames. The narrator is especially drawn to the paintings, which he finds very spirited and lifelike. He also finds a small book on the pillow of his bed, which contains a description and criticism of each painting.The narrator decides to spend the night reading the book and admiring the paintings. He asks Pedro to close the shutters, light the candles, and open the curtains of his bed. He then reads and gazes for hours, until midnight comes. He notices that the position of the candelabrum casts a shadow on one of the paintings, which he had not seen before. He moves the candelabrum closer to the book, and discovers that the painting is a portrait of a young girl, just ripening into womanhood.
The narrator is immediately captivated by the portrait, which he finds astonishingly lifelike and beautiful. He closes his eyes for a moment, to make sure that he is not dreaming or hallucinating. He then opens them again, and confirms that the portrait is indeed real and exquisite. He feels that the portrait has awakened him from a stupor, and he eagerly turns to the book to learn more about it.
The rest of the story is a quote from the book, which tells the story behind the portrait. The book reveals that the girl was a bride of rare beauty, who loved and married a painter of great skill and fame. The painter was very devoted to his art, and cared more about it than anything else in the world. He decided to paint a portrait of his wife, and asked her to sit for him in his turret chamber.
The wife agreed to sit for him, out of love and obedience. She sat meekly for many weeks, while her husband worked tirelessly on his masterpiece. He did not allow anyone to enter his chamber, nor did he pay any attention to his wife's condition. He only looked at her through his eyes of art, and did not notice that she was gradually fading away. She smiled on and still on, uncomplainingly, until she died.
The painter did not realize what had happened until he finished his work. He was so absorbed in his painting that he did not hear her final sigh or see her last breath. He only looked at his canvas, and exclaimed with delight: "This is indeed Life itself!" He then turned to his wife, and saw that she was dead. He had sacrificed her life for his art.
The story ends with the narrator saying: "And I said no more." It is unclear whether he means that he stopped reading the book, or that he stopped speaking altogether. It is also unclear what effect the story has on him, or what happens to him afterwards.
Language
Poe uses language to create mood and atmosphere in the story. He uses descriptive words and imagery to convey the Gothic setting of the chateau and the room. He uses suspense and foreshadowing to build up to the revelation of the portrait and its story. He uses irony and contrast to emphasize the difference between life and death, art and reality, love and neglect. He uses poetic devices such as rhyme, alliteration, assonance, repetition, and parallelism to create rhythm and beauty in his prose. He also uses archaic words and expressions to create a sense of antiquity and authenticity in his story.Symbolism and Imagery
Symbolism
The story uses various symbols to convey its themes and messages. Some of the symbols are:
- The portrait: The portrait symbolizes the painter’s obsession with his art and his wife’s beauty. It also symbolizes the contrast between life and death, art and reality, love and neglect. The portrait is so lifelike that it seems to have taken the life of the wife, leaving her dead and him alone.
- The niche: The niche symbolizes the hidden and mysterious nature of the portrait and its story. It also symbolizes the isolation and separation of the wife from the rest of the world, as she is confined to the turret chamber and ignored by her husband.
- The book: The book symbolizes the narrator’s curiosity and fascination with the portrait and its story. It also symbolizes the connection and communication between the narrator and the painter, as they share their interest in art and literature.
- The candles: The candles symbolize the light and warmth of life and art. They also symbolize the discovery and revelation of the portrait and its story, as they illuminate the niche and the book.
Imagery
The story uses various images to create mood and atmosphere in the story. Some of the images are:
- The chateau: The chateau is described as a gloomy and grand place, with bizarre architecture and rich decorations. It creates a sense of horror and mystery, as well as a contrast between art and reality.
- The paintings: The paintings are described as very spirited and lifelike, with vivid colors and expressions. They create a sense of admiration and wonder, as well as a contrast between life and death, art and reality.
- The portrait: The portrait is described as a stunning image of a young girl, just ripening into womanhood. She has a radiant smile, a rosy cheek, a tender eye, a curling lip, a dimpled chin, a graceful neck, a snowy bosom, a glowing arm. She creates a sense of beauty and love, as well as a contrast between life and death, art and reality.
- The wife: The wife is described as a bride of rare beauty, who loved and married a painter of great skill and fame. She sat meekly for many weeks, while her husband worked tirelessly on his masterpiece. She smiled on and still on, uncomplainingly, until she died. She creates a sense of pity and sorrow, as well as a contrast between life and death, art and reality.
Major Themes
Some of the major themes in the story are:- Art and life: The story explores the relationship between art and life, and the consequences of sacrificing one for the other. The painter is so obsessed with his art that he neglects his wife’s life, and ends up losing both. The wife is so devoted to her husband that she sacrifices her life for his art, and ends up immortalized in his portrait. The narrator is so fascinated by the portrait and its story that he ignores his own situation and condition. The story shows how art can be both a source of beauty and a cause of death, and how life can be both a source of love and a cause of neglect.
- Beauty and death: The story reflects Poe’s theory that the death of a beautiful woman is the most poetical topic in the world. The wife is a bride of rare beauty, who dies while sitting for her husband. The portrait is a stunning image of her beauty, which seems to have taken her life. The story creates a contrast between the lifelike portrait and the lifeless wife, and between the reality of death and the illusion of art. The story also shows how beauty can be both a blessing and a curse, and how death can be both a tragedy and a poetry.
- Obsession and neglect: The story shows how obsession can lead to neglect, and how neglect can lead to death. The painter is obsessed with his art, and neglects his wife’s health. The wife is neglected by her husband, and dies of illness. The narrator is obsessed with the portrait and its story, and neglects his own wound and comfort. The story shows how obsession can blind one to the reality and needs of others, and how neglect can cause suffering and loss.
- Love and sacrifice: The story shows how love can lead to sacrifice, and how sacrifice can have different outcomes. The wife loves her husband, and sacrifices her life for his art. She dies, but becomes immortalized in his portrait. The husband loves his wife, but sacrifices her life for his art. He finishes his masterpiece, but loses his beloved. The story shows how love can be selfless and sublime, but also selfish and destructive. It also shows how sacrifice can be noble and rewarding, but also foolish and regretful.
Moral
The story does not have a clear moral, but it can be interpreted in different ways. One possible moral is that art should not be valued more than life, and that obsession can be destructive. Another possible moral is that love can be selfless and sublime, and that art can immortalize beauty. A third possible moral is that there is no moral, and that life is unpredictable and cruel.Sources
- Poe, Edgar Allan. “The Oval Portrait.” The Complete Tales and Poems of Edgar Allan Poe. New York: Barnes & Noble, 2006. 197-199. Print.
- Sova, Dawn B. Edgar Allan Poe: A to Z. New York: Checkmark Books, 2001. 173-174. Print.
- Quinn, Arthur Hobson. Edgar Allan Poe: A Critical Biography. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1998. 331-332. Print.
- Meyers, Jeffrey. Edgar Allan Poe: His Life and Legacy. New York: Cooper Square Press, 1992. 171-172. Print.
- Wikipedia contributors. “The Oval Portrait.” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 9 Nov. 2021. Web. 30 Dec. 2021.
- Barzun, Jacques, et al. “Edgar Allan Poe.” Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica, inc., 22 Oct. 2021. Web. 30 Dec. 2021.
- “Edgar Allan Poe.” Poetry Foundation. Poetry Foundation, n.d. Web. 30 Dec. 2021.
- Poe, Edgar Allan. “The Oval Portrait.” PoeStories.com. Robert Giordano, n.d. Web. 30 Dec. 2021.
- “The Oval Portrait Study Guide.” LitCharts. LitCharts LLC, n.d. Web. 30 Dec. 2021.