Critical Analysis of Edgar Allan Poe’s the man that was used up: Post Humananist Reading

Abstract

This paper explores Edgar Allan Poe’s The Man That was Used Up from Post-Humanist Perspective. Using a qualitative close-reading approach, it explores how Poe’s depiction of General Smith challenges humanist ideals of identity and autonomy. The analysis reveals that the story presents technology as integral to human existence, blurring the boundary between human and machine. Drawing on posthumanist theory, particularly Hayles’ (1999) concept of the “posthuman,” this study argues that Poe’s work anticipates contemporary debates about technology’s role in shaping human identity. Together, these findings show that “The Man That Was Used Up” anticipates modern issues about the fusion of humans with technology and the shifting locus of agency. This study is significant because it shows the harmful consequences of science on people. It also shows the post-humanist digital aspects of literature. Additionally, it investigates the moral questions brought up by advances in science and technology. This is a problem of the present and this work is important since it examines this modern problem.