Poe's Prehistoric Fiction and Pre/Post-Humanity: Speculation via "Silence"

Abstract: The word "prehistoric" came into general use in the 1860s, and it was not until around the turn of the twentieth century that saw the emergence of prehistoric fiction in English. In his 1838 tale, "Silence," however, Edgar Allan Poe had presented a form of prehistoric narrative by creating a fictional setting of West Central Africa. While casting new light on prehistoric fiction by discovering the tale's unexplored potential, this study finds itself associated with philosophy with special reference to the French-Continental philosophers Jacques Derrida and Quentin Meillassoux. Their deconstructive/speculative philosophies serve to reveal what has been unexplored in "Silence," hence allowing an understanding of how widely open it is to what belongs outside of history and humanity. An attempt is ultimately made to demonstrate that the tale's potentiality lies in its capacity to generate fresh perspectives not only on prehistory but also on pre-humanity and even on post-humanity.