Eleonora by Edgar Allan Poe (1842): A Review

Title: Eleonora

Author: Edgar Allan Poe

Publication Year: 1842

Pages: 9

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐

Genre: Gothic, Romance, Horror

Source: EBook @everand_us

Warning: Spoiler Alert and Disappointment

"Eleonora" is an intriguing addition to Edgar Allan Poe's repertoire, showcasing both familiar themes and unexpected twists. At its core, the story features an unreliable narrator—a classic brooding soul spiraling into madness. He is deeply in love with a female character, and, like in many of Poe’s tales, things take a tragic turn with her untimely demise. He even vows not to remarry, fearing that it might tempt fate to unleash a curse. This scenario is quite typical for a Poe protagonist, right? With promises of haunting and a love that transcends death, one could almost feel at home in the eerie embrace of gothic literature. However, don’t get too comfortable just yet!

A notable departure from the expected gloom occurs in the setting, which begins as a pastoral paradise but turns into a wasteland after Eleonora’s death, leaving our narrator in deep existential despair. After some melodramatic wallowing, he decides to relocate to a new city, where he finds love again. This would usually signal the typical pull of horror, wouldn’t it? Not quite! Instead of serving up chilling specters of despair, Eleonora’s ghost appears with a more encouraging message: “Congratulations on your new romance!” thereby blessing his new relationship.

With a deceased fiancée/cousin cheering him on, Poe seems to playfully toy with our expectations here, almost as if he's trying to inject a glimpse of hopeful irony into his signature melancholic style—and perhaps even into his own life. Or maybe he found a way out of grief and despair through writing this story, creating a saving plan for his future heartbreaks.

Now, let’s discuss the poetic form and mythological allusions in this narrative. It reads like you’re flipping through a beautifully crafted volume of poetry rather than a typical gothic horror tale. You can easily get lost in the lyrical flow, which is all lovely until you realize you’re kind of waiting for a raven to squawk “Nevermore” or hear the melody of “Annabel Lee.” Instead, you’re treated to lyrical musings about love and loss, culminating in a ghostly “You go, girl!” moment.

I rated this story three stars because I expected horror and gothic elements, not a happy ending, which ultimately led to my disappointment. Sorry, universe, but I cannot tolerate or believe in happy endings! I want reality in gothic and horror. Am I asking too much? But you made me this way, so don’t blame me for being dark!