Mesmerization with the Lights On: Poe’s “The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar”

Edgar Allan Poe’s eerie short story “The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar” is a particularly noteworthy example sublime, psychological state which one overwhelmed by magnitude that perceived mind. Valdemar exemplifies sublime his death has somehow been suspended time because he was under hypnosis as part medical experiment at moment passing. However, also draws particular attention to means insight into nature acquired hypnotist who narrates story. For more comprehensive understanding experience, may turn psychoanalytic theory Jacques Lacan and postmodernist work Slavoj Žižek, lead conclusion dramatic chain events “Valdemar” an sliding signifier, and, moreover, instability signifier explain effect.