The Spectacles

Ever wondered what would happen if Poe left his gloom and doom-hungry readers in the lurch to crack a few jokes? The answer is Poe' s rare comedy in the form of " The Spectacles" (1844). The main character, a shortsighted and dim-witted fool (perhaps aptly) named Napoleon, inherits a large amount of money. Unfortunately, it turns out that his short-sightedness is as symbolic as it is literal, and it quickly becomes the reason behind a series of humorous escapades. While the story begins as a romance, it goes through the pains of farce, only to end on a note of morality. The readers will break into laughter as they learn that love at first sight isn' t all it' s cracked up to be.