The core message of The System of Dr. Tarr and Prof. Fether is that it may be rather hard to define the notion of madness or even distinguish between a healthy and an ill person. An individual should stay vigilant in order not to become a part of the movement and get exposed to a situation where they would have to move around stealthily not to get caught. Even though Poe’s story was published in 1850, its relevance can still be backed by the fact that many people nowadays are masterfully hiding their antisocial peculiarities in order not to draw a lot of attention to themselves. The story showed that there could be no guarantee about remaining protected at all times and having access to a safe haven. With this being said, the message that Poe sends with the help of The System of Dr. Tarr and Prof. Fether is that one should never underestimate the impact of their surroundings.
The lesson that can be learned through the interface of this Poe’s short story is that no one can be trusted due to the lack of background information and deceptive practices. This means that the mad people from Poe’s story are not mere “lunatics to be soothed” but fully-fledged personalities that have to be reckoned with in order to protect the community (Poe 12). Failing to address this particular lesson, a person might be exposing themselves to numerous negative scenarios related to how one could miss a crucial hint at one’s health condition, for example. The System of Dr. Tarr and Prof. Fether revolves around the necessity to monitor people continuously, and the failure to do so would signify the point of no return for the individuals involved in the process of monitoring.
Given the plot twist at the end of the story, it may be safe to say that the lack of trust could be strengthened by the fact that society cohorts shape their members and impose on them certain behavioral norms that cannot be broken. As a secondary theme, the idea of a community shaping an individual from the inside may be the best way to explain why Maillard joined the lunatics and actually became the new leader of their revolt. While there may be no explanation linked to why he actually turned mad, it should be noted that the chances are high that similar situations could occur in the real-world as well. With the narrator failing to find any works written by Doctor Tarr and Professor Fether, it may be safe to say that he became a victim of deceit and fell for a trap that had been set up by the lunatics (Poe 14). Maillard’s personality was deformed by his job, as he was unconsciously inclined to displaying his authority.
I believe that The System of Dr. Tarr and Prof. Fether is still relevant despite being published for the first time almost two centuries ago. Superintendent Maillard’s story is a perfect example of how the lack of vigilance and the inability to withstand the impact of societal pressure have created a monster. Even though the notion of a monster is only figurative within the context of Poe’s story, it shows how one’s transformation could redefine the world around them. The superintendent becoming a lunatic himself is a hint at the fact that no one is safe. Societal pressure cannot be evaded, but its effects can be minimized. And yet, there may be no guarantees the narrator himself would remain sane if he spent a bit more time in Maison de Sante after the upheaval.
Work Cited
Poe, Edgar Allan. The System of Dr. Tarr and Prof. Fether. Virginia Tech, 1850.