Point of View

Once again, Poe employs a first-person narrator to tell his tale. This narrator is unlike the unreliable narrators of stories such as The Cask of Amontillado and The Imp of the Perverse, however, and is more of an observer than a participant. His role in the story is to explain the story to the reader, allowing a more balanced picture of the entire detective story and of the analytical mind of Dupin. He does seem to be slightly in awe of Dupin, but his narration seems unharmed by his affections.

Setting

The story is set in Paris during the 1800s. Other than the site of the murders, the streets of Paris and the Gothic mansion the narrator shares with Dupin provide most of the locale. Poe is able to create a cozy home for himself in this mansion, which may explain why he seems to be...