In many of his short stories Graham Greene writes about the theme of death. Here death always stands in close relation to fear, though there are only two of his short stories namely A Little Place off Edgeware Road and Proof Positive, which by their settings and characters create a certain kind of horror and revulsion. The latter, M. G. Brennan wrote, is “[…] dealing with the polarities of life and death […]” (28) and has a rather ironical and mystic notion towards the theme. Brian Diemert claims in his article Recomposing “Valdemar” that Edgar Allan Poe’s short story The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar “[…] is both the model for and the precursor of Greene's story, […]” (1). The writer got inspired by Poe’s combination of horror and suspense as well as the resolute and appalling way he used to end his tale.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Comparative Analysis of Narrators
3. Suspension and Narrative Development
4. The Role of Voice and Immortality
5. Atmosphere and Character Portrayal
6. Conclusion
Research Objectives and Themes
The primary objective of this analysis is to examine the thematic and structural parallels between Graham Greene’s "Proof Positive" and Edgar Allan Poe’s "The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar," specifically exploring how both authors approach the intersection of death, decay, and the preservation of the spirit.
- The influence of Poe’s horror narratives on Greene’s writing style.
- Contrasting the use of third-person versus first-person narrators in conveying psychological horror.
- The representation of the body and soul in the context of mortality and immortality.
- The function of atmosphere, setting, and sensory descriptions in evoking reader disgust and fear.
Excerpt from the Book
Another parallel is found in the voices of the subjects of matter.
In Graham Greene’s Proof Positive the sound of the sick man’s “tired voice” is mentioned fairly often and represents the immortal part of Mr. Weaver - his spirit. It changes from tired to high several times within the story and when “He lost the thread of his speech altogether. […] His speech, as it grew slower, seemed to lose all logical order” (Greene, 2). Major Weaver’s hand also touching his throat a few times during his speech can be seen as a sign for the collapse of his body. His body which has already lost all of its strength and is dead cannot be hold intact anymore by his spirit only. When the old man finally “sat down slowly in his chair and let his head fall backwards.” (Greene, 3) his soul has left his body after all.
In Poe’s short story the role of Valdemar’s voice is not as steadily described as in the case of Philip Weaver, however, in a quite peculiar way. When P-----‘s patient is under hypnosis he only uses his voice to answer questions. For the time Ernest Valdemar’s body functions were still intact the sound of his voice was “very faintly, almost inaudibly” (Poe, 5) but suddenly when “There was no longer the faintest sign of vitality in M. Valdemar” (Poe, 6) his tongue, as the only bearer of words, started to vibrate and answered P-----‘s questions with a harsh voice. Finally this was the unexplainable and unforeseen reaction to hypnosis right before death. It proofed that the spirit could outlive the body and could keep it in its present condition. In Proof Positive as well as in The Facts in The Case of M. Valdemar the voices of the characters are the only proof for the existence of an immortal sould.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: This chapter introduces the thematic focus on death in Greene’s short stories and establishes the connection to Edgar Allan Poe’s works.
2. Comparative Analysis of Narrators: This section contrasts the skeptical third-person narrator in Greene’s work with the objective first-person observer in Poe’s story.
3. Suspension and Narrative Development: This chapter analyzes how both authors manage the timeline of death and the separation of spirit from body.
4. The Role of Voice and Immortality: This section explores how the changing nature of the characters' voices serves as proof of the survival of the spirit.
5. Atmosphere and Character Portrayal: This chapter examines the usage of descriptive language, settings, and physical decay to evoke horror and disgust.
6. Conclusion: This chapter synthesizes the findings, confirming Poe’s work as a foundational model for Greene’s narrative approach.
Keywords
Graham Greene, Edgar Allan Poe, Proof Positive, The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar, death, immortality, horror, narrative perspective, body and soul, literature, comparative analysis, short story, gothic, spirit, decay.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research paper?
The paper examines how Graham Greene uses the theme of death and the survival of the spirit in "Proof Positive," drawing parallels to the stylistic and thematic elements found in Edgar Allan Poe’s "The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar."
What are the primary themes explored in the text?
The central themes include the mortality versus immortality dichotomy, the separation of the soul from the decaying body, and the creation of horror through sensory details and atmospheric descriptions.
What is the main research question of the work?
The work aims to answer to what extent Graham Greene creates a specific picture of horror and disgust in "Proof Positive" by mirroring elements of Poe’s narrative style.
Which scientific methodology is applied here?
The analysis utilizes a comparative literature methodology, evaluating similarities and differences in narrative structures, character portrayals, and thematic developments between two primary texts.
What does the main body of the paper cover?
The main body discusses the differences in narrators, the suspension of time during the dying process, the symbolic role of the characters' voices, and the use of repulsive imagery to build a frightening environment.
How would you describe the key terminology of this paper?
The key terms involve literary concepts such as narrative perspective, Gothic atmosphere, thematic parallels, and psychological horror as applied to short stories.
How does Colonel Crashaw function in Greene’s narrative?
Colonel Crashaw serves as a skeptical, third-person focalizer whose judgment and irritation heavily influence the reader's perception of Major Weaver and the surrounding events.
What role does the "voice" play in both stories?
In both stories, the voice of the dying subject is the primary, albeit eerie, evidence that the spirit continues to persist even after the physical body has effectively collapsed.
Why are the descriptions of the setting important in "Proof Positive"?
The setting, characterized by cold, fog, and uninviting environments, acts as the foundation for an atmosphere of unease and reflects the internal decay of the characters.
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- Aria Reid (Autor:in), 2011, Essay on Graham Greene's "Proof Positive", München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/193588
