The Premature Burial

My Thoughts

This story conjoured up feelings of clostrophobia, dread, and loneliness all at once. I immediately became curious about some of the examples of premature burial given at the beginning of the story, and many seemed to be real cases, while others perhaps myth. I found that being buried alive is an actual phobia, though likely less prominent now that it was during Poe's time.

The protagonist is deathly afraid of being buried alive. He has an odd malady that he calls catalepsy. This ailment causes him to suffer from such an extremely lethargy that he appears to be dead. He has a very real fear that someone may mistake him for dead and bury him alive. He is aware that this happens more often than people think, hence his examples throughout the first half of the story. He has obviously conducted a large amount of research into the subject.

He takes a lot of precautions such as rigging his family mausoleum with springs in the coffin, a bell to ring that is attached to his hand within the coffin by a string, and easy open gates at the entrance. Unfortunately, one fateful day he wakes up in total darkness. He begins to panic. His heart races as he tries to feel his way out of his coffin. He can smell the moist earth around him. He has apparently fallen into his cataleptic state and was buried by mistake. His worst fear has been realized.

I thought it was frightening. I could imagine myself in a small coffin underground. I imaged how I would try to get out. How would I break through the wood? If I did, how would I be able to dig through six feet of earth? How would I be able to breathe? The oxygen would slowly dwindle and I would become increasingly lethargic. I began researching about real cases and how some people scratched their fingers to the bone in unsuccessful attempts at escape! Perhaps I have obtained a new phobia. Thanks, Mr. Poe!

My Rating

I would rate this story a 3.7 out of 5.