Shadow by Edgar Allan Poe (1835): A Review

Title: Shadow

Author: Edgar Allan Poe

Publication Year: 1835

Pages: 4

Rating: ⭐⭐

Genre: Parable, Horror, Gothic

Source: eBook and audiobook @storytel.tr

Opening Sentence: YE who read are still among the living; but I who write shall have long since gone my way into the region of shadows.

Poe's "Shadow—A Parable" is a similar chilling story to "The Masque of the Red Death," portraying death as an inescapable, omnipresent force. Much like the Red Death patiently stalks both the living and the dead during a plague, the enigmatic Shadow in this tale emerges as an embodiment of mortality, patiently waiting at the door to claim its due. Both stories feature characters attempting to escape an epidemic, only to be confronted by the terrifying inevitability of their own demise, highlighting how death is the ultimate uninvited guest, unaffected by wealth or isolation.

"Shadow" is a must-read for its evocative atmosphere and profound exploration of existential dread. It's not a masterclass in psychological horror like Red Death but close. Its subtle terrors and universal themes of mortality make it a brief yet impactful read that will linger in your thoughts long after you've finished.

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