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Morella
An unnamed narrator marries Morella, a woman with great scholarly knowledge who delves into studies of the German philosophers Fichte and Schelling, dealing with the question of identity. Morella spends her time in bed reading and teaching her husband. Realizing her physical deterioration, her husband, the narrator, becomes frightened and wishes for his wife's death and eternal peace. Eventually, Morella dies in childbirth proclaiming: "I am dying. But within me is a pledge of that affection... which thou didst feel for me, Morella. And when my spirit departs shall the child live." As the daughter gets older the narrator notices she bears an uncanny resemblance to her mother, but he refuses to give the child a name. By her tenth birthday the resemblance to Morella is frightening. Her father decides to have her baptized to release any evil from her, but this event brings the mother's soul back into her daughter. At the ceremony, the priest asks the daughter's name, to which the narrator replies "Morella". Immediately, the daughter calls out, "I am here!" and dies. The narrator himself bears her body to the tomb and finds no trace of the first Morella where he lays the second.
24 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1835
21 people are currently reading
810 people want to read
About the author
Edgar Allan Poe
10.4kbooks27.6kfollowersThe name Poe brings to mind images of murderers and madmen, premature burials, and mysterious women who return from the dead. His works have been in print since 1827 and include such literary classics as The Tell-Tale Heart, The Raven, and The Fall of the House of Usher. This versatile writer’s oeuvre includes short stories, poetry, a novel, a textbook, a book of scientific theory, and hundreds of essays and book reviews. He is widely acknowledged as the inventor of the modern detective story and an innovator in the science fiction genre, but he made his living as America’s first great literary critic and theoretician. Poe’s reputation today rests primarily on his tales of terror as well as on his haunting lyric poetry.
Just as the bizarre characters in Poe’s stories have captured the public imagination so too has Poe himself. He is seen as a morbid, mysterious figure lurking in the shadows of moonlit cemeteries or crumbling castles. This is the Poe of legend. But much of what we know about Poe is wrong, the product of a biography written by one of his enemies in an attempt to defame the author’s name.
The real Poe was born to traveling actors in Boston on January 19, 1809. Edgar was the second of three children. His other brother William Henry Leonard Poe would also become a poet before his early death, and Poe’s sister Rosalie Poe would grow up to teach penmanship at a Richmond girls� school. Within three years of Poe’s birth both of his parents had died, and he was taken in by the wealthy tobacco merchant John Allan and his wife Frances Valentine Allan in Richmond, Virginia while Poe’s siblings went to live with other families. Mr. Allan would rear Poe to be a businessman and a Virginia gentleman, but Poe had dreams of being a writer in emulation of his childhood hero the British poet Lord Byron. Early poetic verses found written in a young Poe’s handwriting on the backs of Allan’s ledger sheets reveal how little interest Poe had in the tobacco business.
For more information, please see
Just as the bizarre characters in Poe’s stories have captured the public imagination so too has Poe himself. He is seen as a morbid, mysterious figure lurking in the shadows of moonlit cemeteries or crumbling castles. This is the Poe of legend. But much of what we know about Poe is wrong, the product of a biography written by one of his enemies in an attempt to defame the author’s name.
The real Poe was born to traveling actors in Boston on January 19, 1809. Edgar was the second of three children. His other brother William Henry Leonard Poe would also become a poet before his early death, and Poe’s sister Rosalie Poe would grow up to teach penmanship at a Richmond girls� school. Within three years of Poe’s birth both of his parents had died, and he was taken in by the wealthy tobacco merchant John Allan and his wife Frances Valentine Allan in Richmond, Virginia while Poe’s siblings went to live with other families. Mr. Allan would rear Poe to be a businessman and a Virginia gentleman, but Poe had dreams of being a writer in emulation of his childhood hero the British poet Lord Byron. Early poetic verses found written in a young Poe’s handwriting on the backs of Allan’s ledger sheets reveal how little interest Poe had in the tobacco business.
For more information, please see
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 291 reviews
May 21, 2022
*الشر هو :غياب التعاطف*
مع موريلا سنرى كيف تفسد الزيجات تدريجيا؛ كيف يتحول الإنبهار لحقد.. و كيف يتحول الجمال لقبح و كيف يقتل الرجل زوجته؛ فقط بما لم يقله و لم يفعله
بأقل الكلمات و بأسلوبه الشعري العذب؛ يسممنا ادجار ببطء من خلال زوج لا يعرف ما يريد حقا يتزوج من موريلا استخساراً لمزاياها الفريدة: كقارئة و كمثقفة ذات ميول عدمية و اهتمامات ماورائية
صار الزوج من مريديها بل تلميذها و وهبته هي كل وقتها و ضنت به على كل معارفها..و بالطبع ضاق بتفوقها تدريجيا؛ َ صار يتمنى انطفائها بل و موتها و بسعادة بالغة يراقبها و هي تذوي.. و لكن لماذا تأخر الموت حقا؟!! ا
سأموت و مع ذلك ساحيا؛ فأجمل الايام للحياة او للموت"
لم تحبني ابدا في حياتي و لكنك ستعشقني في موتى" ا
في خطبتها الأخيرة على فراش الموت قبيل الولادة تمنح موريلا زوجها خطبة اشبه بنبؤات ساحرات ماكبث الثلاث؛ لم أجد ما هو أكثر كآبة منها حتى في أيامنا هذه
و تضيف
الكآبة هي أكثر المشاعر بقاء والفرح لا ُيجتني مرتين*
*في العمر
و "موريلا هي احدى اربع بطلات متوفيات اشتهر بهن
" ادجار ادبيا
و نبدأ مشوار الاب مع ابنته التي يعطيها كل الحب الذي ضن به على امها
و في آخر سطر من الاقصوصة السوداوية الغرائبية /الواقعية التي تجبرنا على وضع اكثر من تعريف
: للموت.. يمنحنا ادجار نهاية مدهشة لنتذكر ان
* ساعاتنا في الحب لها أجنحة و في الفراق لها مخالب*
مع موريلا سنرى كيف تفسد الزيجات تدريجيا؛ كيف يتحول الإنبهار لحقد.. و كيف يتحول الجمال لقبح و كيف يقتل الرجل زوجته؛ فقط بما لم يقله و لم يفعله
بأقل الكلمات و بأسلوبه الشعري العذب؛ يسممنا ادجار ببطء من خلال زوج لا يعرف ما يريد حقا يتزوج من موريلا استخساراً لمزاياها الفريدة: كقارئة و كمثقفة ذات ميول عدمية و اهتمامات ماورائية
صار الزوج من مريديها بل تلميذها و وهبته هي كل وقتها و ضنت به على كل معارفها..و بالطبع ضاق بتفوقها تدريجيا؛ َ صار يتمنى انطفائها بل و موتها و بسعادة بالغة يراقبها و هي تذوي.. و لكن لماذا تأخر الموت حقا؟!! ا
سأموت و مع ذلك ساحيا؛ فأجمل الايام للحياة او للموت"
لم تحبني ابدا في حياتي و لكنك ستعشقني في موتى" ا
في خطبتها الأخيرة على فراش الموت قبيل الولادة تمنح موريلا زوجها خطبة اشبه بنبؤات ساحرات ماكبث الثلاث؛ لم أجد ما هو أكثر كآبة منها حتى في أيامنا هذه
و تضيف
الكآبة هي أكثر المشاعر بقاء والفرح لا ُيجتني مرتين*
*في العمر
و "موريلا هي احدى اربع بطلات متوفيات اشتهر بهن
" ادجار ادبيا
و نبدأ مشوار الاب مع ابنته التي يعطيها كل الحب الذي ضن به على امها
و في آخر سطر من الاقصوصة السوداوية الغرائبية /الواقعية التي تجبرنا على وضع اكثر من تعريف
: للموت.. يمنحنا ادجار نهاية مدهشة لنتذكر ان
* ساعاتنا في الحب لها أجنحة و في الفراق لها مخالب*
June 27, 2024
CALIFICACIÓN REAL: 3.5 estrellas
El protagonista de esta historia estaba unido en matrimonio con una muy inteligente mujer llamada Morella, pero ella era una gran y competente estudiosa del ocultismo, las artes oscuras, quizás también de la brujería y materias afines; por lo que fue causando cierto repelús con el paso del tiempo en su marido, cosa que se incrementó hacia el final. Tarde o temprano, este hombre presenciará lo que estas pseudociencias pueden traer a la mesa.
Ahora, dejando de lado la sinopsis contextual, llama la atención que el protagonista aparentemente . ¿Por qué pienso esto?, porque básicamente cuando más comienza a desentenderse de su esposa, es cuando se toca el tema sobre . Y este relato nos demuestra que eso no es así: el marido será testigo de tales situaciones, pero no como sus supuestas e hipotéticas creencias profesan.
Todo esto lo digo responsablemente y sin asegurar nada, ya que nunca se confirma que como tal, solo es una especulación personal.
Posteriormente, la esposa cae gravemente enferma; por lo que se encuentra moribunda. Su marido tiene el deseo de que su corazón deje de latir, pero no con la intención de que sea para que se su miseria, sufrimiento o algo parecido se acaben. Ésta se da cuenta de algunas cosas y momentos previos a su muerte, tiene una interesantísima conversación con él. Básicamente, ella le da una especie de premonición, que más que eso, pareciera que lo está condenando o maldiciendo, y le asegura que no podrá ser feliz, entre otros mensajes y revelaciones completamente ajenos a la situación del momento: como . Y efectivamente, .
Este miserable infeliz continúa atormentado una década después, ya que ; además de que la niña le recuerda día a día a su difunta esposa.. No conoce el mundo exterior . Una edad perfecta para el bautismo.
Llegando ya a la parte final de esta historia, hay que mencionar lo del bautizo, debido a que, en ese preciso instante, se le dará un nombre a , ya que no tiene uno. Se barajan varias ideas, pero todas son descartadas en favor de un incontrolable impulso. Cito textualmente: ‘’Y en la pila bautismal titubee buscando un nombre. Y muchos nombres de los sabios y hermosos, de tiempos antiguos y modernos, de tierras lejanas y de la mía propia, acudieron como una multitud a mis labios, con muchos, muchos nombres perfectos de los gentiles, los felices y los bondadosos. ¿Qué me llevó entonces a perturbar la memoria de los muertos y sepultados? ¿Qué demonio me instó a emitir aquel sonido, cuya sola mención acostumbraba hacer fluir en torrentes de sangre purpúrea desde las sienes al corazón? ¿Qué espíritu maligno habló desde lo más recóndito de mi alma, cuando entre aquellos oscuros pasillos, y en el silencio de la noche, susurré en los oídos de aquel santo varón las sílabas [...]?’� Nombre que no diré por obvias razones, aunque es más que obvio y evidente.
¿Por qué cité toda esta parte? Porque no se puede dejar pasar como si nada una nueva participación del ‘’demonio de la perversidad’�. No me esperaba en absoluto un cameo así de claro y explícito en otro relato de Poe. Pensé que las posteriores presencias de este tipo de entidad que todos tenemos iban a ser más sutiles, como ocurren en El gato negro o El corazón delator.
PD: lean mi reseña de El demonio de la perversidad.
Con respecto a la elección del nombre, personalmente descarto la idea de que , como muchos suelen creer. Pienso que fue obra de su ‘’demonio de la perversidad’�, con el propósito de traer a la memoria algo que intentaba dejar atrás, haciendo así, que siempre tenga presente a su mujer para continuar atormentado por ella. Y obviamente, el resultado y repercusiones posteriores a todo esto, son consecuencia del esoterismo que Morella practicó en vida.
Y en relación a esto último que menciono, no hay que olvidar que ella misma en la conversación final que tienen, deja bien claro que realmente ama a su cónyuge; por lo que no es descartable creer que ella misma buscó la forma para poder hacerle compañía tras su deceso y así estar con él por más tiempo, aunque esto nuevamente signifique . Quizás lo hizo a sabiendas de lo que ocurriría a futuro, pero el amor fue más grande y fuerte por parte de ella, que aparentemente no le importó , a pesar de que solamente sea por dos lustros, con tal de .
Quiero concluir esta reseña hablando muy bien de este título y recomendándolo. Si bien es cierto que presenta el ya recurrente y arquetípico argumento de Poe que siempre propone sobre el desdichado viudo que adquiere una miserable y lamentosa vida tras quedar solo, y que posteriormente, todo conducirá a alguna situación que tenga el fantasmal o sobrenatural sello del autor; puedo decirles que, sin lugar a dudas, este es su mejor relato de dicha índole. Es una historia muy interesante y atrapante, con un trasfondo en base a las ciencias ocultas y la .
Por lejos, lo mejor de esta obra es la sobresaliente conversación que Morella tiene con su esposo antes de morir, en conjunto con el desenlace de toda la historia. Aunque, debo confesar que el punto más alto para mí es la última conversación entre marido y mujer. De igual forma, tiene un final muy bueno.
Mi calificación es de 3.5 estrellas. Esta obra está muy bien escrita y decorada y, a pesar de la conocida prosa de su autor, no se siente que sea tan barroca ni sofocante. Se disfruta tanto por cómo está escrita como por la trama que nos ofrece.
PD 2: suelo quedar muy conforme y satisfecho con mis reseñas una vez finalizadas, pero esta en particular no me convence. Quizás la edite o la reestructure en algún momento; y por qué no, quizás la plantee a modo de remake o reboot con una posible relectura que no descarto.
Para no perder el hilo con las demás reseñas de Narraciones extraordinarias:
� Precedida de Metzengerstein: /review/show...
� Seguida por El cottage de Landor: /review/show...
El protagonista de esta historia estaba unido en matrimonio con una muy inteligente mujer llamada Morella, pero ella era una gran y competente estudiosa del ocultismo, las artes oscuras, quizás también de la brujería y materias afines; por lo que fue causando cierto repelús con el paso del tiempo en su marido, cosa que se incrementó hacia el final. Tarde o temprano, este hombre presenciará lo que estas pseudociencias pueden traer a la mesa.
Ahora, dejando de lado la sinopsis contextual, llama la atención que el protagonista aparentemente . ¿Por qué pienso esto?, porque básicamente cuando más comienza a desentenderse de su esposa, es cuando se toca el tema sobre . Y este relato nos demuestra que eso no es así: el marido será testigo de tales situaciones, pero no como sus supuestas e hipotéticas creencias profesan.
Todo esto lo digo responsablemente y sin asegurar nada, ya que nunca se confirma que como tal, solo es una especulación personal.
Posteriormente, la esposa cae gravemente enferma; por lo que se encuentra moribunda. Su marido tiene el deseo de que su corazón deje de latir, pero no con la intención de que sea para que se su miseria, sufrimiento o algo parecido se acaben. Ésta se da cuenta de algunas cosas y momentos previos a su muerte, tiene una interesantísima conversación con él. Básicamente, ella le da una especie de premonición, que más que eso, pareciera que lo está condenando o maldiciendo, y le asegura que no podrá ser feliz, entre otros mensajes y revelaciones completamente ajenos a la situación del momento: como . Y efectivamente, .
Este miserable infeliz continúa atormentado una década después, ya que ; además de que la niña le recuerda día a día a su difunta esposa.. No conoce el mundo exterior . Una edad perfecta para el bautismo.
Llegando ya a la parte final de esta historia, hay que mencionar lo del bautizo, debido a que, en ese preciso instante, se le dará un nombre a , ya que no tiene uno. Se barajan varias ideas, pero todas son descartadas en favor de un incontrolable impulso. Cito textualmente: ‘’Y en la pila bautismal titubee buscando un nombre. Y muchos nombres de los sabios y hermosos, de tiempos antiguos y modernos, de tierras lejanas y de la mía propia, acudieron como una multitud a mis labios, con muchos, muchos nombres perfectos de los gentiles, los felices y los bondadosos. ¿Qué me llevó entonces a perturbar la memoria de los muertos y sepultados? ¿Qué demonio me instó a emitir aquel sonido, cuya sola mención acostumbraba hacer fluir en torrentes de sangre purpúrea desde las sienes al corazón? ¿Qué espíritu maligno habló desde lo más recóndito de mi alma, cuando entre aquellos oscuros pasillos, y en el silencio de la noche, susurré en los oídos de aquel santo varón las sílabas [...]?’� Nombre que no diré por obvias razones, aunque es más que obvio y evidente.
¿Por qué cité toda esta parte? Porque no se puede dejar pasar como si nada una nueva participación del ‘’demonio de la perversidad’�. No me esperaba en absoluto un cameo así de claro y explícito en otro relato de Poe. Pensé que las posteriores presencias de este tipo de entidad que todos tenemos iban a ser más sutiles, como ocurren en El gato negro o El corazón delator.
PD: lean mi reseña de El demonio de la perversidad.
Con respecto a la elección del nombre, personalmente descarto la idea de que , como muchos suelen creer. Pienso que fue obra de su ‘’demonio de la perversidad’�, con el propósito de traer a la memoria algo que intentaba dejar atrás, haciendo así, que siempre tenga presente a su mujer para continuar atormentado por ella. Y obviamente, el resultado y repercusiones posteriores a todo esto, son consecuencia del esoterismo que Morella practicó en vida.
Y en relación a esto último que menciono, no hay que olvidar que ella misma en la conversación final que tienen, deja bien claro que realmente ama a su cónyuge; por lo que no es descartable creer que ella misma buscó la forma para poder hacerle compañía tras su deceso y así estar con él por más tiempo, aunque esto nuevamente signifique . Quizás lo hizo a sabiendas de lo que ocurriría a futuro, pero el amor fue más grande y fuerte por parte de ella, que aparentemente no le importó , a pesar de que solamente sea por dos lustros, con tal de .
Quiero concluir esta reseña hablando muy bien de este título y recomendándolo. Si bien es cierto que presenta el ya recurrente y arquetípico argumento de Poe que siempre propone sobre el desdichado viudo que adquiere una miserable y lamentosa vida tras quedar solo, y que posteriormente, todo conducirá a alguna situación que tenga el fantasmal o sobrenatural sello del autor; puedo decirles que, sin lugar a dudas, este es su mejor relato de dicha índole. Es una historia muy interesante y atrapante, con un trasfondo en base a las ciencias ocultas y la .
Por lejos, lo mejor de esta obra es la sobresaliente conversación que Morella tiene con su esposo antes de morir, en conjunto con el desenlace de toda la historia. Aunque, debo confesar que el punto más alto para mí es la última conversación entre marido y mujer. De igual forma, tiene un final muy bueno.
Mi calificación es de 3.5 estrellas. Esta obra está muy bien escrita y decorada y, a pesar de la conocida prosa de su autor, no se siente que sea tan barroca ni sofocante. Se disfruta tanto por cómo está escrita como por la trama que nos ofrece.
PD 2: suelo quedar muy conforme y satisfecho con mis reseñas una vez finalizadas, pero esta en particular no me convence. Quizás la edite o la reestructure en algún momento; y por qué no, quizás la plantee a modo de remake o reboot con una posible relectura que no descarto.
Para no perder el hilo con las demás reseñas de Narraciones extraordinarias:
� Precedida de Metzengerstein: /review/show...
� Seguida por El cottage de Landor: /review/show...
July 24, 2019
One of Poe's horror tales. At first you learn how the first person narrator adores his wife Morella. They talk about philosophy and he regards himself as her pupil. She dies in childbed though. Well, the daughter born is also baptized Morella since the father only sees his deceased woman in her. Did his wife really die and where is her body? The story has an extreme uncanny twist at the end and I really liked it. Morbid as usual, full of forebodings and compelling. Recommended!
March 14, 2022
Morella is one of Poe’s stories where an enigmatic woman dies of an unknown disease and “haunts� the narrator. While Berenice and The Fall of the House of Usher are longer and have really horrific elements, Morella is shorter and less disturbing…at least on the surface.
The narrator likes Morella, but he doesn’t really love her per se. They do end up married and he is taken with her intelligence and her knowledge about mystical and philosophical topics. Morella starts to suffer from an illness, which bothers her husband a great deal. Maybe not because he loves her, maybe not because he doesn’t want to see her suffer, but probably because he wants her suffering to be done. He pretty much wishes her to die quickly. She senses this and tells him that it’s fine because she will live on. When she dies, she gives birth to a daughter. The baby grows quickly - too quickly - and looks and acts a great deal like her mother. The narrator loves his daughter but doesn’t have her baptized until she’s ten. The baptism only happens because he hopes to get rid of what possesses her (her mother). When the priest asks her name, the narrator says Morella’s name. In that instant, Morella answers the call and the child dies. When the narrator takes his daughter to the family tomb, he finds that the body of the original Morella is missing.
Such a strange story! The narrator is clearly intrigued by Morella but also perhaps afraid of her. Her love of philosophy, the theories of self-identity, and mystical elements are points of interest to him; however, her voice and physical touch upset him. He wishes her to die, but she knows that she will live on in her daughter. When the girl looks and acts too much like her mother, the narrator assumes she is possessed by evil. When he gives her the name of her mother during the baptism, it’s almost like he hopes she too will die, which is exactly what happens. The missing body is the slight interjection of horror. It’s pretty bad the narrator wishes his wife dead, but the fact that he did the same with his daughter, who he actually loved, is just awful. The horror here is more psychological and the icky feeling definitely sticks around awhile. Another great classic!
The narrator likes Morella, but he doesn’t really love her per se. They do end up married and he is taken with her intelligence and her knowledge about mystical and philosophical topics. Morella starts to suffer from an illness, which bothers her husband a great deal. Maybe not because he loves her, maybe not because he doesn’t want to see her suffer, but probably because he wants her suffering to be done. He pretty much wishes her to die quickly. She senses this and tells him that it’s fine because she will live on. When she dies, she gives birth to a daughter. The baby grows quickly - too quickly - and looks and acts a great deal like her mother. The narrator loves his daughter but doesn’t have her baptized until she’s ten. The baptism only happens because he hopes to get rid of what possesses her (her mother). When the priest asks her name, the narrator says Morella’s name. In that instant, Morella answers the call and the child dies. When the narrator takes his daughter to the family tomb, he finds that the body of the original Morella is missing.
Such a strange story! The narrator is clearly intrigued by Morella but also perhaps afraid of her. Her love of philosophy, the theories of self-identity, and mystical elements are points of interest to him; however, her voice and physical touch upset him. He wishes her to die, but she knows that she will live on in her daughter. When the girl looks and acts too much like her mother, the narrator assumes she is possessed by evil. When he gives her the name of her mother during the baptism, it’s almost like he hopes she too will die, which is exactly what happens. The missing body is the slight interjection of horror. It’s pretty bad the narrator wishes his wife dead, but the fact that he did the same with his daughter, who he actually loved, is just awful. The horror here is more psychological and the icky feeling definitely sticks around awhile. Another great classic!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 13, 2020
If you are in the right frame of mind when you read or hear it, it will make your flesh crawl.
February 15, 2016
I was really quite surprised at my reaction to this. But, judging by Poe’s very high level of storytelling, this was all very basic. What I mean is that everything he attempted in here is handled better in another one of his stories. Perhaps, this was a stepping stone for some of his more refined work. This did have the same melancholy tone, though it didn’t quite have the same profound depth as, for example, Ligeia or The Black Cat.
I was under the naive assumption that all of his stories would be as good as the last. I do suppose that not even Poe could achieve the same level of mastery in all of his works. The main problem I had with this was the sheer speed in which it was told. Yes, all of his works are very short; however, the mood shifts in this changed with each paragraph. It was all too quick with none of his trademark subtlety. The story begins with the narrator explaining how dearly he loves his wife; she is beautiful and intelligent; she is his life, and he is completely dependent on her. Okay, so that’s fine. A paragraph later he is now disgusted with the very same things that he once loved about her. This is also okay. The same notion can be in the mind of the narrator of the The Black Cat. These shifts do happen over time.
Then she dies. This, once again, arouses his devotion. He is now, once again, in love with her. This time it’s her memory. He cannot even bare to speak her name in his grief. She died in childbirth where she gave birth to their daughter. The baby girl strongly resembles the mother. The narrator initially loves her, and then he sees the uncanny resemblance to his late wife. He can no longer bear to see the child; he developes hatred and disgust for her; he becomes angry. This is no less than five rapid states of emotional changes in one character within the course of a very short story.
For me it felt quick and, well, just a little bit too much. The changes were too sudden and not fully explored. It was like being told of the emotional change, like I have stated, but without actually seeing it occur. It was a case of tell rather than show. If you, again, compare this to The Black Cat it wanes in comparison. The narrative voice lacked the depth, feeling and power of his other works.
If you’ve not seen any of my other reviews for Poe before, this is not a reflection of what I think of him in general. He is a fantastic writer; however, this particular story was not as good as his more renowned ones.
I was under the naive assumption that all of his stories would be as good as the last. I do suppose that not even Poe could achieve the same level of mastery in all of his works. The main problem I had with this was the sheer speed in which it was told. Yes, all of his works are very short; however, the mood shifts in this changed with each paragraph. It was all too quick with none of his trademark subtlety. The story begins with the narrator explaining how dearly he loves his wife; she is beautiful and intelligent; she is his life, and he is completely dependent on her. Okay, so that’s fine. A paragraph later he is now disgusted with the very same things that he once loved about her. This is also okay. The same notion can be in the mind of the narrator of the The Black Cat. These shifts do happen over time.
Then she dies. This, once again, arouses his devotion. He is now, once again, in love with her. This time it’s her memory. He cannot even bare to speak her name in his grief. She died in childbirth where she gave birth to their daughter. The baby girl strongly resembles the mother. The narrator initially loves her, and then he sees the uncanny resemblance to his late wife. He can no longer bear to see the child; he developes hatred and disgust for her; he becomes angry. This is no less than five rapid states of emotional changes in one character within the course of a very short story.
For me it felt quick and, well, just a little bit too much. The changes were too sudden and not fully explored. It was like being told of the emotional change, like I have stated, but without actually seeing it occur. It was a case of tell rather than show. If you, again, compare this to The Black Cat it wanes in comparison. The narrative voice lacked the depth, feeling and power of his other works.
If you’ve not seen any of my other reviews for Poe before, this is not a reflection of what I think of him in general. He is a fantastic writer; however, this particular story was not as good as his more renowned ones.
November 26, 2023
"Morella" anticipa lo que Edgar Allan Poe va a perfeccionar en "Ligeia".
Poe mismo reconocía que era su mejor cuento hasta el momento.
Esta típica narración poeiana que oscila entre el poder de la muerte sobre la vida, la transmutación de las almas y en cierto modo, la temática del doble, nos permite encontrarnos con el típico amor enfermizo que Poe tenía por aquellas mujeres que amó en su vida trasladado a su propia literatura.
La idealización de la mujer es capitalizada dos veces, tanto en la primer Morella como en la segunda, su hija.
El final con esa risa trágica conecta en forma casi directa con el de otro de sus cuentos: "El tonel de amontillado".
Las características que rodean a este cuento rozan lo mejor de la tragedia griega mezclado con los elementos sobrenaturales que sólo él podía amalgamar para transformar en belleza.
Poe mismo reconocía que era su mejor cuento hasta el momento.
Esta típica narración poeiana que oscila entre el poder de la muerte sobre la vida, la transmutación de las almas y en cierto modo, la temática del doble, nos permite encontrarnos con el típico amor enfermizo que Poe tenía por aquellas mujeres que amó en su vida trasladado a su propia literatura.
La idealización de la mujer es capitalizada dos veces, tanto en la primer Morella como en la segunda, su hija.
El final con esa risa trágica conecta en forma casi directa con el de otro de sus cuentos: "El tonel de amontillado".
Las características que rodean a este cuento rozan lo mejor de la tragedia griega mezclado con los elementos sobrenaturales que sólo él podía amalgamar para transformar en belleza.
January 12, 2025
You only have to look at some of the book covers available online to make a decision about Morella.
You don't have to read it. People have done that enough to create a harrowing atmosphere.
If you have any doubt about the sinister and bizarre inner persona of EAP, put that aside at once.
He is, I mean he was, bonkers nuts. I love that about the man.
Morella and Carmilla get together in a lovenest of epic proportions and go to the moon in moans of pleasure (I wish). At the same time, the crockery in gran's kitchen has cracked and disintegrated into dust and I haven't started the first page yet.
That's the EAP effect.
Work hard, rage quietly, build up a steam of intrepid love and awe from within and let the demons do their thing. It's what they do best.
After reading this short story twice I'm none the wiser, as with pretty much everything by Edgar Allan Poe. You're supposed to be confused and he succeeds in this admirably.
Morella is a beautifully written story about death.
The unknown or unreliable protagonist falls in love and gets married, but instead of settling down and living happily ever after - this, after all, is EAP - his wife gets pale and wan and dies after what appears to be childbirth.
The child, a daughter, grows up in the image of her mother, who he can never forget. You're never going to believe this, but the daughter dies as well!
Maybe this is Poe's way of telling us we're ready for the crypt, which you can look at in two ways:
- a gloomy outlook with no point in living because we're going to die anyway?
- or a reminder that we're close to the edge and might as well get busy living with the time we've got left?
This could be one of the reasons EAP is misinterpreted as a harbinger of doom and gloom.
Sure, it's the way he expresses himself, but I prefer to view this as a reminder to get on with it before it's too late.
Maybe I interpreted this short story wrong? Does it matter? What does matter is finding something positive and worth living for within.
You don't have to read it. People have done that enough to create a harrowing atmosphere.
If you have any doubt about the sinister and bizarre inner persona of EAP, put that aside at once.
He is, I mean he was, bonkers nuts. I love that about the man.
Morella and Carmilla get together in a lovenest of epic proportions and go to the moon in moans of pleasure (I wish). At the same time, the crockery in gran's kitchen has cracked and disintegrated into dust and I haven't started the first page yet.
That's the EAP effect.
Work hard, rage quietly, build up a steam of intrepid love and awe from within and let the demons do their thing. It's what they do best.
After reading this short story twice I'm none the wiser, as with pretty much everything by Edgar Allan Poe. You're supposed to be confused and he succeeds in this admirably.
Morella is a beautifully written story about death.
The unknown or unreliable protagonist falls in love and gets married, but instead of settling down and living happily ever after - this, after all, is EAP - his wife gets pale and wan and dies after what appears to be childbirth.
The child, a daughter, grows up in the image of her mother, who he can never forget. You're never going to believe this, but the daughter dies as well!
Maybe this is Poe's way of telling us we're ready for the crypt, which you can look at in two ways:
- a gloomy outlook with no point in living because we're going to die anyway?
- or a reminder that we're close to the edge and might as well get busy living with the time we've got left?
This could be one of the reasons EAP is misinterpreted as a harbinger of doom and gloom.
Sure, it's the way he expresses himself, but I prefer to view this as a reminder to get on with it before it's too late.
Maybe I interpreted this short story wrong? Does it matter? What does matter is finding something positive and worth living for within.
December 22, 2018
Gracias, Edgar, por estos 20 minutos de angustia y creepiness. El argumento habría dado para una novela entera, pero el efecto de shock y sorpresa que tiene al ser un relato juega a su favor.
April 28, 2013
A Chilling, Surprising, Short Story
“And, hourly, grew darker these shadows of similitude, and more full, and more definite, and more perplexing, and more hideously terrible in their aspect. For that her smile was like her mother’s I could bear; but then I shuddered at its too perfect identity � that her eyes were like Morella’s I could endure; but then they too often looked down into the depths of my soul with Morella’s own intense and bewildering meaning. And in the contour of the high forehead, and in the ringlets of the silken hair, and in the wan fingers which buried themselves therin, and in the sad musical tones of her speech, and above all � oh, above all � in the phrases and expressions of the dead on the lips of the loved and the living, I found food for consuming thought and horror � for a worm that would not die.�
The bottom line: An unnamed narrator marries Morella, who dies in childbirth. The unnamed child grows and bears a striking resemblance to the older Morella. With some of the best prose I’ve ever read and a jaw-dropping twist at the end, I found “Morella� to be one of Poe's shorter but more entertaining stories.
“And, hourly, grew darker these shadows of similitude, and more full, and more definite, and more perplexing, and more hideously terrible in their aspect. For that her smile was like her mother’s I could bear; but then I shuddered at its too perfect identity � that her eyes were like Morella’s I could endure; but then they too often looked down into the depths of my soul with Morella’s own intense and bewildering meaning. And in the contour of the high forehead, and in the ringlets of the silken hair, and in the wan fingers which buried themselves therin, and in the sad musical tones of her speech, and above all � oh, above all � in the phrases and expressions of the dead on the lips of the loved and the living, I found food for consuming thought and horror � for a worm that would not die.�
The bottom line: An unnamed narrator marries Morella, who dies in childbirth. The unnamed child grows and bears a striking resemblance to the older Morella. With some of the best prose I’ve ever read and a jaw-dropping twist at the end, I found “Morella� to be one of Poe's shorter but more entertaining stories.
January 4, 2016
Morella, după biografia lui Poe, este ea însăşi una dintre iubirile lui (însă nu a confirmat nimeni ceea ce a scris el aici despre destinul ei). Povestirea descrie un proces de metempsihoză aparte: trecerea sufletului mamei (moartă la naşterea copilei) în sufletul fiicei ei. Poe descrie simţământul de melancolie pe care avea să-l aibă la vederea copilei, aducându-i aminte, prin procese freudiene, fizic şi psihic, de mama ei, de iubita naratorului: "nume a cărui simplă amintire îmi trimitea de obicei şuvoaie de sânge clocotitor din tâmple până-n inima? Ce diavol a izbucnit din străfundurile sufletului meu, când, sub bolţile întunecoase, am şoptit la urechile cuviosului preot numele - Morella?"
Memorie involuntară.
Memorie involuntară.
December 23, 2023
- ليست بذات مستوى قصصه القصيرة الأخرى. الفكرة تبدأ من الحب والتعلق الى الخوف والبغض ثم ولادة جديدة مع الباس روح موريلا جسداً جديداً (ابنتها) فموت فمفاجأة بسيطة...
January 11, 2025
"And as years rolled away, and daily I gazed upon her eloquent and mild and holy face, and pored over her maturing form, did I discover new points of resemblance in the child to her mother � the melancholy, and the dead."
If your wife states she's studying reincarnation, and then suddenly decides to die and give birth to a daughter at the same time, having shown no prior signs of pregnancy, you gotta know something is up.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 30, 2018
Al principio me pareció un poco indiferente,..pero hay que llegar hasta la última frase del relato para entenderlo y para que te recorra un estremecimiento por todo el cuerpo.
Brillante.
Brillante.
December 6, 2022
En términos de construcción, este cuento da la sensación de una redondez impecable, tan así que hasta el tema tiene algo de circular en su elección: la metempsicosis.
La identidad y el traspaso de la conciencia, el pienso luego existo de los cuentos de Poe.
La risa final, presente también en otros cuentos, como un último intento liberador para no caer en la completa locura.
La identidad y el traspaso de la conciencia, el pienso luego existo de los cuentos de Poe.
La risa final, presente también en otros cuentos, como un último intento liberador para no caer en la completa locura.
January 11, 2025
Not really sure what just happened here! Will take it to the HORROR OR HEAVEN book group discussion thread...
February 10, 2021
Not a favorite Poe story of mine, but it's a short one, and a decent part of Poe's short story collection.
October 17, 2020
Morbide, düster und poe(tisch).
July 10, 2016
Morella. Las personas, integrantes de este medio ya estarán cansadas de que yo diga, una y otra, y otra vez lo mismo de Edgar Allan Poe, pero es que su escritura es inigualable, su delicadeza, gozo y lascivia que inspiran en mí, es agotador. Este carácter narrativo motivado por el suspenso, los susurros, sensaciones, movimientos, descripciones detalladas de la verdadera naturaleza humana y la crueldad, ese deseo impenetrable que todos conocen, pero nadie menciona, el nos habla de ello, nos lo presenta y lo integra en una parte esencial de la vida, como enviandote un "No estas solo".
Pocas paginas. Incontables sentimientos. Así es...
Pocas paginas. Incontables sentimientos. Así es...
August 2, 2015
Loved it. <3
"But one autumnal evening, when the winds lay still in heaven, Morella called me to her bedside. There was a dim mist over all the earth, and a warm glow upon the waters, and amid the rich October leaves of the forest , a rainbow from the firmament had surely fallen.
'It is a day od days,' she said, as I aproached;' a day of all days either to live or die. It is a fair day for the sons of earth and life-ah,more fair for the daughters of heaven and death.'
"For the hours of thy happiness are over and joy is not gathered twice in a life, as the roses of Paestum twice in a year."
"But one autumnal evening, when the winds lay still in heaven, Morella called me to her bedside. There was a dim mist over all the earth, and a warm glow upon the waters, and amid the rich October leaves of the forest , a rainbow from the firmament had surely fallen.
'It is a day od days,' she said, as I aproached;' a day of all days either to live or die. It is a fair day for the sons of earth and life-ah,more fair for the daughters of heaven and death.'
"For the hours of thy happiness are over and joy is not gathered twice in a life, as the roses of Paestum twice in a year."
June 5, 2015
It was creepy and incredible. The last few paragraphs gave me actual chills and I swear I held my breath.
I loved the story. It was lovely, sad, creepy and tragic, all rolled into one.
I loved the story. It was lovely, sad, creepy and tragic, all rolled into one.
August 10, 2022
"it is a happiness to wonder, it is a happiness to dream"
adored this one!
adored this one!
October 23, 2023
Nah este relato está chulísimo, me mola mazo el concepto y cómo está escrito. Lo leí hace mucho y no me ha defraudado releerlo. EL FINAL THO 👌👌👌Este siento que funciona muy bien como relato, mientras que "la máscara de la muerte roja" me parecía que a lo mejor quedaría mejor como novela?
Leyéndome cosas del Edgar Alan Poe porque se acerca Halloween jejej
Leyéndome cosas del Edgar Alan Poe porque se acerca Halloween jejej
January 31, 2021
Wonderful. The ending was unexpected and creepy. Poe truly is a master of the short story.
July 14, 2022
this is top notch
November 18, 2024
Good.
This was good, but not going to review it.
For the moment at least.
It’s public domain. You can find it
-----------------------------------------------
PERSONAL NOTE :
[1835] [16p] [Horror] [Conditional Recommendable]
-----------------------------------------------
★★★☆� The Essential Tales and Poems of Edgar Allan Poe
★★☆☆� The Complete Stories and Poems
★★★☆� The Tell-Tale Heart and Other Writings
★★★☆� The Fall of the House of Usher and Other Tales
★☆☆☆� The Raven and Other Poems
-----------------------------------------------
Bueno.
Esto estuvo bien, pero no voy a reseñarlo.
Al menos por ahora.
Es dominio público, lo pueden encontrar
-----------------------------------------------
NOTA PERSONAL :
[1835] [16p] [Horror] [Recomendable Condicional]
-----------------------------------------------
This was good, but not going to review it.
For the moment at least.
It’s public domain. You can find it
-----------------------------------------------
PERSONAL NOTE :
[1835] [16p] [Horror] [Conditional Recommendable]
-----------------------------------------------
★★★☆� The Essential Tales and Poems of Edgar Allan Poe
★★☆☆� The Complete Stories and Poems
★★★☆� The Tell-Tale Heart and Other Writings
★★★☆� The Fall of the House of Usher and Other Tales
★☆☆☆� The Raven and Other Poems
-----------------------------------------------
Bueno.
Esto estuvo bien, pero no voy a reseñarlo.
Al menos por ahora.
Es dominio público, lo pueden encontrar
-----------------------------------------------
NOTA PERSONAL :
[1835] [16p] [Horror] [Recomendable Condicional]
-----------------------------------------------
November 6, 2024
Όλες οι ιστορίες του Poe που στο επίκεντρό τους βρίσκεται μια γυναίκα είναι μοναδικές με έναν τρόπο ιδιαίτερο. Τρομακτικές και γοητευτικές, αληθινές και παράξενες την ίδια στιγμή, βαθιά συναισθηματικές που σε παρασύρουν στο να παραδοθείς στα πιο κρυφά σου αισθήματα, στις πιο βαθιές σου σκέψεις, στα πάθη και τις επιθυμίες που κρατάς καλά κρυμμένα. Ναι, οι "αγάπες" του Poe δεν κρύβονται και μέσα από έργα σαν κι αυτά βιώνεις την τραγικότητα και το μεγαλείο τους.
April 6, 2017
I will take back my initial assessment that out of the four Poe sick woman stories (the others being Eleonora, Berenice, and Ligeia) Ligeia is my favourite. There is something about Morella that captivates me, from Poe's intricate description of the protagonist's love that is not quite love to the manner in which she continues to dominate him after death. It's beautifully written and downright creepy.
April 11, 2016
حاله من الظغط النفسى الغريبه
يدخل بنا فى عالم الاطفال ثم يأخذنا الى عالم الموت
يدخل بنا فى عالم الاطفال ثم يأخذنا الى عالم الموت
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