The Light-House

"The Light-House" is the last short story written by Edgar Allan Poe. He did not live to finish it, and had barely begun it by the time of his death.

Plot summary

The story is told as a series of diary entries, the first being New Year's Day, 1796. The setting is somewhere near Scandinavia, possibly in the Norwegian Sea.

On January 1, the narrator records that it is his first day in the lighthouse, and records his annoyance at the fact that he had a difficult time getting the appointment to man it, even though he is of noble birth. He records that a storm is in progress, and that the ship that brought him "had a narrow pass". He also dwells on the concept of being alone, and how much he looks forward to spending time alone, just him and his dog Neptune, so he can write his book. He briefly comments that he hears some echo in the walls, thinking they may not be sturdy, but catches himself and claims that his worries are "all nonsense", alluding to a prophecy made by his friend DeGrat, who got him the appointment to the lighthouse.

On January 2 he describes the sea as being calm and uneventful, the wind having "lulled about day-break", and expounds on his passion for being alone.

On January 3 he describes the day as being calm and placid, and resolves to explore the lighthouse. He again begins to worry about the safety of the structure, but tries to reassure himself. The last line reads, "The basis on which the structure rests seems to me to be chalk..."

A heading for January 4 follows, but there is no text.

Analysis

It is difficult to predict how the story was intended to go, seeing as Poe had written so little of it before he was cut off by his untimely death. However, themes of isolation and paranoia are sufficiently apparent, and it seems that the story would probably involve a nightmarish storm (given Poe's earlier motifs, probably a whirlwind) which would bring down the lighthouse and its inhabitant, the diary possibly being saved by the dog, Neptune.

Its style is very straightforward and plainspoken, in contrast to the more elaborate and decorated prose of Poe's earlier stories, implying a shift in Poe's writing style which the author did not live to realize.

It is very similar in theme to the later and also unfinished short story "The Burrow" by Franz Kafka. Both involve a reclusive narrator who obsesses over the safety of his enclosure, though Kafka's work was much closer to completion and, consequentially, much more elaborate. Given the obscurity of Poe's story, it is very unlikely that Kafka had read it.

Inspiration

Author and surgeon Dr. Richard Selzer included his short story 'Poe's Light-house', inspired by Edgar Allan Poe's 'The Light-House', in 'The Doctor Stories', published by Picador.

Irreverent Media Ltd. has optioned and developed Selzer's short story as the feature film 'The Light-house'.

Film Adaptation

The short story is currently in the process of being adapted for the screen by late 2008. It is rumored that Ellen Page of "Hard Candy" and "Juno" fame will star as Annie and Kevin Zegers has been attached for the leading role. The adaption is now in the pre-production phase but is scheduled for filming in January. It has been retitled "Light-house". [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0926311/]

External links

* [http://eapoe.org/works/tales/lightha.htm Complete text of the story from the Edgar Allan Poe Society of Baltimore]