the imp of_the perverse

by Edgar Allan Poe

in_the consideration of_the faculties and impulses -- of_the prima mobilia of_the human soul, the phrenologists have failed to_make room for a propensity which, although obviously existing as a radical, primitive, irreducible sentiment, has_been equally overlooked by all the moralists who_have preceded them . in_the pure arrogance of_the reason, we_have all overlooked it . we_have suffered its existence to escape our senses, solely through want of belief -- of faith; -- whether it be faith in revelation, or faith in_the Kabbala . the idea of it has never occurred to_us, simply because of_its supererogation . we saw no need of_the impulse -- for_the propensity . we_could_not perceive its necessity . we_could_not understand, that_is_to_say, we_could_not have understood, had the notion of_this primum Mobile ever obtruded itself; -- we_could_not have understood in what manner it might_be made to further the objects of humanity, either temporal or eternal . it cannot_be denied that phrenology and, in great measure, all metaphysicianism have_been concocted apriori . the intellectual or logical man, rather than_the understanding or observant man, set himself to imagine designs -- to dictate purposes to god .Having thus fathomed, to_his satisfaction, the intentions of Jehovah, out of_these intentions he built his innumerable systems of mind . in_the matter of phrenology, for example, we first determined, naturally enough, that_it_was the design of_the deity that man should eat . we then assigned to man an organ of alimentiveness, and this organ is_the scourge with_which the deity compels man, will-I nill-I, into eating . secondly, having settled it to_be god's will that man should continue his species, we discovered an organ of amativeness, forthwith . and so with combativeness, with ideality, with causality, with constructiveness, -- so, in short, with every organ, whether representing a propensity, a moral sentiment, or a faculty of_the pure intellect . and in_these arrangements of_the Principia of human action, the Spurzheimites, whether right or wrong, in_part, or upon_the whole, have but followed, in principle, the footsteps of_their predecessors: deducing and establishing every thing from_the preconceived destiny of man, and upon_the ground of_the objects of_his creator .

it would_have_been wiser, it would_have_been safer, to classify ( if classify we_must) upon_the basis of what man usually or occasionally did, and was always occasionally doing, rather than upon_the basis of what we took it for granted the deity intended him to_do . if_we_cannot comprehend god in_his visible works, how then in_his inconceivable thoughts, that call the works into being ? if_we_cannot understand him in_his objective creatures, how then in_his substantive moods and phases of creation ?

induction, aposteriori, would_have brought phrenology to admit, as an innate and primitive principle of human action, a paradoxical something, which we_may call perverseness, for want of a more characteristic term . in_the sense I intend, it_is, in_fact, a Mobile without motive, a motive not motivirt . through_its promptings we act without comprehensible object; or, if_this shall be understood as a contradiction in terms, we_may so_far modify the proposition as to_say, that through_its promptings we act, for_the reason that we should_not . in theory, no reason can_be more unreasonable, but, in_fact, there_is none more strong . with certain minds, under certain conditions, it becomes absolutely irresistible . I_am not more certain that I breathe, than that_the assurance of_the wrong or error of any action is often the one unconquerable force which impels us, and alone impels us to its prosecution . nor will this overwhelming tendency to_do wrong for_the wrong's sake, admit of analysis, or resolution into ulterior elements . it_is a radical, a primitive impulse- elementary . it_will_be said, I_am aware, that when we persist in acts because we_feel we should_not persist in_them, our conduct is but a modification of_that which ordinarily springs from_the combativeness of phrenology . but a glance will show the fallacy of_this idea . the phrenological combativeness has for its essence, the necessity of self-defence . it_is our safeguard against injury . its principle regards our well- being; and thus the desire to_be well is excited simultaneously with its development . it follows, that_the desire to_be well must_be excited simultaneously with any principle which shall be merely a modification of combativeness, but in_the case of_that something which I term perverseness, the desire to_be well is not_only not aroused, but a strongly antagonistical sentiment exists .

an appeal to one's own heart is, after all, the best reply to_the sophistry just noticed . no one who trustingly consults and thoroughly questions his own soul, will_be disposed to deny the entire radicalness of_the propensity in_question . it_is_not more incomprehensible than distinctive . there lives no man who at some period has_not_been tormented, for example, by an earnest desire to tantalize a listener by circumlocution . the speaker is aware that he displeases; he has every intention to_please, he_is usually curt, precise, and clear, the most laconic and luminous language is struggling for utterance upon his tongue, it_is only with difficulty that he restrains himself from giving it flow; he dreads and deprecates the anger of him whom he addresses; yet, the thought strikes him, that by certain involutions and parentheses this anger may_be engendered . that single thought is enough . the impulse increases to a wish, the wish to a desire, the desire to an uncontrollable longing, and_the longing ( to_the deep regret and mortification of_the speaker, and in Defiance of all consequences) is indulged .

we_have a task before_us which_must be speedily performed . we_know that_it_will_be ruinous to_make delay . the most important crisis of_our life calls, trumpet- tongued, for immediate energy and action . we glow, we_are consumed with eagerness to commence the work, with_the anticipation of whose glorious result our whole souls are on fire . it must, it shall be undertaken to- day, and yet we put it off until to- morrow, and why ? there_is no answer, except that we_feel perverse, using the word with no comprehension of_the principle . to- morrow arrives, and with it a more impatient anxiety to_do our duty, but with_this very increase of anxiety arrives, also, a nameless, apositively fearful, because unfathomable, craving for delay . this craving gathers strength as_the moments fly . the last hour for action is at hand . we tremble with_the violence of_the conflict within us, -- of_the definite with_the indefinite -- of_the substance with_the shadow . but, if_the contest have proceeded thus far, it_is_the shadow which prevails, -- we struggle in vain . the clock strikes, and is_the knell of_our welfare . at_the same time, it_is_the chanticleer -- note to_the ghost that has so_long overawed us . it flies -- it disappears -- we_are free . the old energy returns . we_will labor now . alas, it_is too late !

we stand upon_the brink of a precipice . we peer into_the abyss -- we grow sick and dizzy . our first impulse is to shrink from_the danger .Unaccountably we remain . by slow degrees our sickness and dizziness and horror become merged in a cloud of unnamable feeling . by gradations, still more imperceptible, this cloud assumes shape, as did the vapor from_the bottle out of_which arose the genius in_the Arabian Nights . but out of_this our cloud upon_the precipice's edge, there grows into palpability, a shape, far more terrible than any genius or any demon of a tale, and yet it_is but a thought, although a fearful one, and one which chills the very marrow of_our bones with_the fierceness of_the delight of_its horror . it_is merely the idea of what would_be our sensations during the sweeping precipitancy of a fall from such a height . and this fall -- this rushing annihilation -- for_the very reason that_it involves that one most ghastly and loathsome of all the most ghastly and loathsome images of death and suffering which_have ever presented themselves to our imagination -- for_this very cause do we now the most vividly desire it . and because our reason violently deters us from_the brink, therefore do we the most impetuously approach it . there_is no passion in nature so demoniacally impatient, as_that of him who, shuddering upon_the edge of a precipice, thus meditates a plunge . to indulge, for a moment, in any attempt at thought, is_to_be inevitably lost; for reflection but urges us to forbear, and therefore it_is, I_say, that we_cannot . if there be no friendly arm to_check us, or if_we fail in a sudden effort to prostrate ourselves backward from_the abyss, we plunge, and_are destroyed .

examine these similar actions as we_will, we_shall find them resulting solely from_the spirit of_the perverse . we perpetrate them because we_feel that we should_not . beyond or behind this there_is no intelligible principle; and we_might, indeed, deem this perverseness a direct instigation of_the arch- fiend, were it not occasionally known to operate in furtherance of good .

I_have said thus much, that in some measure I_may answer your question, that I_may explain to_you why I_am here, that I_may assign to_you something that shall_have at_least the faint aspect of a cause for_my wearing these fetters, and for_my tenanting this cell of_the condemned . had I not been thus prolix, you_might either have misunderstood me altogether, or, with_the rabble, have fancied me mad . as_it_is, you_will easily perceive that I_am one_of_the many uncounted victims of_the imp of_the perverse .

it_is impossible that any deed could_have_been wrought with a more thorough deliberation . for weeks, for months, I pondered upon_the means of_the murder .I rejected a thousand schemes, because their accomplishment involved a chance of detection . at_length, in reading some French Memoirs, I_found an account of a nearly fatal illness that occurred to Madame Pilau, through_the agency of a candle accidentally poisoned . the idea struck my fancy at once . I_knew my victim's habit of reading in bed . I_knew, too, that his apartment was narrow and ill- ventilated . but I_need not vex you with impertinent details . I_need not describe the easy artifices by_which I substituted, in_his bed- room candle- stand, a wax- light of_my own making for_the one which I there found . the next morning he_was discovered dead in_his bed, and_the coroner's verdict was -- " death by_the visitation of god ."

Having inherited his estate, all went well with me for years . the idea of detection never once entered my brain . of_the remains of_the fatal taper I had myself carefully disposed .I had left no shadow of a clew by_which it would_be possible to convict, or even to suspect me of_the crime . it_is inconceivable how rich a sentiment of satisfaction arose in my bosom as I reflected upon my absolute security . for a very long period of_time i_was accustomed to revel in_this sentiment . it afforded me more real delight than all the mere worldly advantages accruing from my sin . but there arrived at_length an epoch, from_which the pleasurable feeling grew, by scarcely perceptible gradations, into ahaunting and harassing thought . it harassed because it haunted . I_could scarcely get rid of it for an instant . it_is quite a common thing to_be thus annoyed with_the ringing in_our ears, or rather in_our memories, of_the burthen of some ordinary song, or some unimpressive snatches from an opera . nor will we be the less tormented if_the song in itself be good, or the opera air meritorious . in_this manner, at last, i_would perpetually catch myself pondering upon my security, and repeating, in a low undertone, the phrase, " I_am safe ."

one day, whilst sauntering along the streets, I arrested myself in_the act of murmuring, half aloud, these customary syllables . in a fit of petulance, I remodelled them thus; " I_am safe -- I_am safe -- yes -- if I be not fool enough to_make open confession ! "

no sooner had I spoken these words, than I_felt an icy chill creep to my heart .I had had some experience in_these fits of perversity, ( whose nature I_have_been at some trouble to explain), and I remembered well that in no instance I had successfully resisted their attacks . and now my own casual self- suggestion that I_might possibly be fool enough to confess the murder of_which I had_been guilty, confronted me, as if_the very ghost of him whom I had murdered -- and beckoned me on to death .

at first, I_made an effort to shake off this nightmare of_the soul .I walked vigorously -- faster -- still faster -- at_length I ran . I_felt amaddening desire to shriek aloud . every succeeding wave of thought overwhelmed me with new terror, for, alas ! I well, too well understood that to_think, in my situation, was to_be lost .I still quickened my pace .I bounded like a madman through_the crowded thoroughfares . at_length, the populace took the alarm, and pursued me . I_felt then the consummation of_my fate . could I_have torn out my tongue, i_would_have done it, but a rough voice resounded in my ears -- a rougher grasp seized me by_the shoulder .I turned -- I gasped for breath . for a moment I experienced all the pangs of suffocation; I became blind, and deaf, and giddy; and then some invisible fiend, i_thought, struck me with_his broad palm upon_the back . the long imprisoned secret burst forth from my soul .

they say that I spoke with a distinct enunciation, but with marked emphasis and passionate hurry, as_if in dread of interruption before concluding the brief, but pregnant sentences that consigned me to_the hangman and to hell .

Having related all that was necessary for_the fullest judicial conviction, I fell prostrate in a swoon .

but why shall I_say more ? to- day I wear these chains, and am here ! to- morrow I_shall_be fetterless ! -- but where ?