Final answer:
In Poe's "The Murders in the Rue Morgue," the orangutan signifies the unpredictable and violent aspects of human nature. This ties into Poe's broader themes of death, loss, and the human condition's seeming doom. It's a narrative device that mirrors humanity’s dark impulses and challenges perceptions of logic and order.
Step-by-step explanation:
In Edgar Allan Poe's detective story "The Murders in the Rue Morgue," the reveal of a knife-wielding orangutan as the murderer serves a specific narrative purpose rather than defying all logic. Poe is often recognized for exploring themes of the uncanny and the macabre, and in doing so, he invites readers to question the nature of intelligence and instinct, as well as the thin line separating the human from the animalistic. The orangutan, an exotic and wild creature, reflects the chaotic and unpredictable aspects of human nature that can lead to violence and mayhem, foreshadowing modern perspectives on crime influenced by psychological and external factors.
While Marie Bonaparte's psychoanalytic reading of Poe's works suggests a deep connection to Poe's childhood experiences, particularly his desire to reunite with his deceased mother, this interpretation may be less relevant in the context of "The Murders in the Rue Morgue." However, knowing that Poe was fixated on themes of death and loss can inform a deeper understanding of his grim worldview. In the story, the orangutan acts as a mirror to humanity's potential for irrational behavior, a concept that Poe frequently integrated into his writings, such as in "The Fall of the House of Usher" where the narrator is deemed a "Madman" by a man descending into insanity.
Poe's story challenges readers to consider the unpredictable nature of violence and the darkness that lurks within the human psyche, illustrated by a bizarre yet strangely fitting turn of events led by an orangutan—symbolic of untamed, raw impulse unsuitable in the realm of human society. This suggests not just a reflection on Poe's life but his broader views on the human condition and the inherent doom that he perceives within it.