Silence — A Fable is a short, allegorical story by Edgar Allan Poe, first published in 1837. The story is framed as a tale told by a demon who recounts a strange scene he witnessed in a desolate and eerie landscape. In this gloomy setting filled with twisted trees, decaying rocks, and a restless river, a man sits silently. The demon tries to disturb the man’s peace by invoking the most terrifying elements of nature—storms, darkness, and supernatural events—but the man remains unmoved and unafraid.
However, when everything grows utterly silent—when even nature stops making noise—the man becomes overwhelmed and flees in fear. The story explores the idea that silence, more than chaos or horror, is the most powerful and unsettling force. Through this brief fable, Poe delves into themes of fear, the supernatural, and the psychological power of silence, using poetic and symbolic language to create a haunting atmosphere that lingers beyond the final lines.
