The Case of M. Valdemar
Edgar Allan Poe’s Short Story About Hypnosis at the Time of Death
The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar is an interesting exception to Edgar Allan Poe’s standard mode of operation. Typically, he showcases the mind of the tormented. In this story, what happens in the mind of the tormented is left entirely up to the imagination.
The Facts of the Case
The story begins with narrator admitting that the unusual circumstances surrounding the death of M. Valdemar has justifiably caused a great deal of discussion and that a garbled account been presented to society. He goes on to say that his intention is to clear up the ‘unpleasant misrepresentations...and disbelief,’ by presenting the facts of the case.
The Narrator’s Interest in Mesmerism
The narrator begins by acknowledging a recurring interest in mesmerism that has been particular intense during the past three years. He mentions that nine months prior to the incident in question, he had realized that all the studies of mesmerism had neglected on area of potential interest. No one had experimented with hypnosis at the time of death. He decided that there were three things that the study might reveal.
Whether a person approaching death could be mesmerized.
Whether the condition would make mesmerization more difficult or easier.
Whether death may be halted or arrested by mesmerization.
A Suitable Candidate for a Bizarre Experiment
The narrator settles on his friend M. Ernest Valdemar as a potential candidate for the experiment. He had mesmerized Valdemar in the past with ease but had moderate success with controlling him once he was mesmerized. The most important characteristic of this candidate was that he was dying of tuberculosis and so it would be relatively easy to determine the time of death.
The narrator approached Valdemar and discovered him not only interested but also excited by the experiment. They agreed that Valdemar would send the narrator a notice twenty-four hours before his doctors thought he would expire.
Seven months prior to the narrator writing his account, he received a letter from Valdemar who said that his physicians did not think he would live beyond the next day.
Mesmerized
The narrator found his friend propped up in bed looking gravely ill but busily writing notes. He greeted his friend and then spoke briefly to the physicians to ascertain the patient’s situation. They agreed to return to at ten the next night.
The narrator spoke to his friend and then waited until the nurses who were caring for him left and a medical student arrived with whom he felt comfortable and who agreed to take notes of the progression of the experiment.
At 7:55 p.m., he asked his friend whether he was willing to participate in the experiment. His friend gave brief affirmation and then said but I am afraid you waited too long.
The narrator immediately began to hypnotize the invalid.
The hypnotized man eventually began to breathe easier and the evidence of mesmerization became clear to the observers. At midnight, the man’s physicians examined him and agreed that he was in a perfect state of mesmeric trance. They all agreed to return at daybreak to continue the experiment.
The next morning, the narrator succeeded in performing some hypnotic influences that had failed in the past with Valdemar and found that they now worked.
Death’s Door
At this time, the narrator asked his friend if he was asleep. After great effort, the man replied “Yes – asleep now. Do not wake me! – let me die so!” A second question caused Valdemar to answer, “No pain – I am dying.” He decided it would be good to allow the dying man to rest.
When the physicians arrived, he repeated the performance.
They agreed to let Valdemar die in his current state. However, the narrator decided to question the man one last time. However, the results this time were quite different. Valdemar died and the death was quiet disturbing to his audience. When Valdemar finally responded his voice, which seemed to come from far away said “Yes-no- I have been sleeping-and now-now- I am dead.
Living Death
After recovering from their shock (the medical student fainted), the men examined the man closely and determined that he was indeed dead. After some discussion, it was agreed to let him remain hypnotized. Nurses were procured and the men regularly examined the corpse, which had not decayed.
When went through a variety of mesmeric maneuvers before he made contact with the dead man. The narrator then asked the corpse the following question, “M. Valdemar, can you explain to us what are your feelings or wishes now? After tremendous effort the man said “For God’s sake!-Quick!- Quick!-put me to sleep-or, quick!-waken me!- Quick!-I say to you that I am dead!”
The narrator woke the patient. And the result was terrible. Within the space of a minute, the corpse rotted into a liquid mass of putrescence.
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