Arthur Poe
Encyclopedia
Arthur Poe is a fictional character
in the children's novel series A Series of Unfortunate Events
by American author Lemony Snicket
. Poe is a bank
er in charge of the Baudelaire and Quagmire fortunes and the Baudelaire orphans' guardianship. He is distinguished by a congenital cough
, purblind demeanor, and general inefficacy in caring for both sets of children.
Poe is the first to bring the news of Bertrand and Beatrice's death to the Baudelaire children. As executor
of the Baudelaire estate
, he interprets the will's instructions that the children "be raised in the most convenient way possible" as meaning they should remain within the city limits, and arranges for their distant cousin Count Olaf
to take custody
. When the Baudelaires contact Poe at his bank (Mulctuary Money Management) to report Olaf's abuse
, the banker points out that Olaf is acting in loco parentis
, and can raise them as he sees fit. However, when Olaf traps Sunny
in a birdcage
and attempts to force Violet
to marry him, Poe invokes citizen's arrest
just prior to Count Olaf's escape.
Following these events, Poe successively places the children under the care of Monty Montgomery, Josephine Anwhistle, Sir, Jerome and Esmé Squalor
, and finally the Village of Fowl Devotees, acting as their temporary guardian in the interim. When the Baudelaires escape the village amidst accusations of murder (and later arson
and kidnapping
), Poe is one of the few adults to maintain the Baudelaires' innocence and disbelieve the incriminating Daily Punctilio articles published by his sister Eleanora. When the Baudelaires return to the city to meet up with V.F.D.
, Poe intervenes on a tip from a "J.S." (initials variously used by Jerome Squalor, Justice Strauss, Count Olaf
, Esmé Squalor
, and possibly others) with the intent of clearing the Baudelaires' names and restoring his role as executor, but the children refuse to accompany him. After Mrs. Bass rob
s Mulctuary Money Management, Poe is placed in charge of the investigation, which leads him to the Hotel Denouement. When the hotel is set on fire, Poe is on the third floor. Whether he survives or not is left unanswered.
, although there is no evidence in the books to suggest this), this could also just be a result of his incompetence. In The Penultimate Peril, Justice Strauss at one point calls him "that idiotic banker." On many occasions he expresses a thought which is the exact opposite of what the Baudelaires are imagining, such as in The Vile Village when the Baudelaires comment that the death of Quigley does not change the birth identity of the Quagmires as triplets, while Mr. Poe says that the death of Quigley changes their birth identity, and in The Austere Academy
when the Baudelaires interpret the term "cakesniffer" as an insult, while Poe interprets it as a "nice term that reminds him of pastry".
In several of the books, he seems to be very excited about receiving a promotion. His title at Mulctuary Money Management in The Bad Beginning is not stated, but at the start of The Miserable Mill
, while on a train to Paltryville, he announces to the children that he is now Vice-President in Charge of Coins. Then in the sixth book in the series, The Ersatz Elevator
, he becomes Vice-President in Charge of Orphan Affairs. Esmé Squalor deems him an "unstylish banker". After making a short appearance when he lets the Baudelaires choose a town at a new program where they let an entire village be a guardian of an orphan/orphans. Since then, he loses touch with the Baudelaires until a brief appearance of him in end of The Grim Grotto
on Briny Beach, right before the Baudelaires meet Kit Snicket.
Count Olaf
reveals that Poe had adoption papers hidden under his hat at some point after his promotion to Vice President in Charge of Orphan Affairs (which occurs before the start of The Ersatz Elevator
); Mr. Poe is implied in the rare edition of The Bad Beginning to have something hidden under his hat. Olaf also mentions that "at the time" Mr. Poe was better known under his stage name, implying that Poe also works as an actor.
, but it is unknown whether or not he escaped. It may also merely be Lemony Snicket's pessimistic writing style - the books offer no further information on Mr. Poe's fate. In The End
, Mr. Poe does not appear, but an islander called Sadie seems to know Mr. Poe and his occupation.
. The names of his two children is a reference to Edgar Albert Guest, keeping with the trend throughout the books of literary allusions. He also has a sister named Eleonora Poe, a reporter for the Daily Punctilio, which references to the short story Eleonora
written by Edgar Allan Poe himself.
, he was portrayed by actor Timothy Spall
. In the film, Poe remains overwhelmingly obtuse. He acts excessively patronising to the children, and is generally unhelpful with finding them new guardians and fulfilling his duty to keep them safe.
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
in the children's novel series A Series of Unfortunate Events
A Series of Unfortunate Events
A Series of Unfortunate Events is a series of children's novels by Lemony Snicket which follows the turbulent lives of Violet, Klaus, and Sunny Baudelaire after their parents' death in an arsonous house fire...
by American author Lemony Snicket
Lemony Snicket
Lemony Snicket is the pen name of American novelist Daniel Handler . Snicket is the author of several children's books, serving as the narrator of A Series of Unfortunate Events and appearing as a character within the series. Because of this, the name Lemony Snicket may refer to both a fictional...
. Poe is a bank
Bank
A bank is a financial institution that serves as a financial intermediary. The term "bank" may refer to one of several related types of entities:...
er in charge of the Baudelaire and Quagmire fortunes and the Baudelaire orphans' guardianship. He is distinguished by a congenital cough
Cough
A cough is a sudden and often repetitively occurring reflex which helps to clear the large breathing passages from secretions, irritants, foreign particles and microbes...
, purblind demeanor, and general inefficacy in caring for both sets of children.
Poe is the first to bring the news of Bertrand and Beatrice's death to the Baudelaire children. As executor
Executor
An executor, in the broadest sense, is one who carries something out .-Overview:...
of the Baudelaire estate
Estate (law)
An estate is the net worth of a person at any point in time. It is the sum of a person's assets - legal rights, interests and entitlements to property of any kind - less all liabilities at that time. The issue is of special legal significance on a question of bankruptcy and death of the person...
, he interprets the will's instructions that the children "be raised in the most convenient way possible" as meaning they should remain within the city limits, and arranges for their distant cousin Count Olaf
Count Olaf
Count Olaf is the primary antagonist of the children's novel series A Series of Unfortunate Events by American author Lemony Snicket. In the series, Olaf is an actor and is known to have committed many crimes as a member of the fire-starting side of V.F.D. prior to the events of the first book in...
to take custody
Child custody
Child custody and guardianship are legal terms which are used to describe the legal and practical relationship between a parent and his or her child, such as the right of the parent to make decisions for the child, and the parent's duty to care for the child.Following ratification of the United...
. When the Baudelaires contact Poe at his bank (Mulctuary Money Management) to report Olaf's abuse
Child abuse
Child abuse is the physical, sexual, emotional mistreatment, or neglect of a child. In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Department of Children And Families define child maltreatment as any act or series of acts of commission or omission by a parent or...
, the banker points out that Olaf is acting in loco parentis
In loco parentis
The term in loco parentis, Latin for "in the place of a parent"" refers to the legal responsibility of a person or organization to take on some of the functions and responsibilities of a parent...
, and can raise them as he sees fit. However, when Olaf traps Sunny
Sunny Baudelaire
Sunny Baudelaire is one of the protagonists of Lemony Snicket's novel series A Series of Unfortunate Events. Sunny is the youngest of the three Baudelaire orphans, and is described as an infant through much of the series...
in a birdcage
Birdcage
A birdcage is a cage designed to house birds as pets.Antique birdcages are often popular as collectors' items or as household decor but most are not suitable for housing live birds, being too small, or of unsafe materials or construction...
and attempts to force Violet
Violet Baudelaire
Violet Baudelaire is one of the main characters in the children's book series A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket and appears in all thirteen books. She is the oldest of the Baudelaire orphans at 14 years old, and often helps her 12-year-old brother Klaus and her baby sister Sunny...
to marry him, Poe invokes citizen's arrest
Citizen's arrest
A citizen's arrest is an arrest made by a person who is not acting as a sworn law-enforcement official. In common law jurisdictions, the practice dates back to medieval Britain and the English common law, in which sheriffs encouraged ordinary citizens to help apprehend law breakers.Despite the...
just prior to Count Olaf's escape.
Following these events, Poe successively places the children under the care of Monty Montgomery, Josephine Anwhistle, Sir, Jerome and Esmé Squalor
Esmé Squalor
Esmé Gigi Geniveve Squalor is the secondary antagonist of the children's novel series A Series of Unfortunate Events by American author Lemony Snicket. She is Count Olaf's girlfriend. Prior to the events of the series she was a professional stage actress and member of V.F.D. Esmé is distinguished...
, and finally the Village of Fowl Devotees, acting as their temporary guardian in the interim. When the Baudelaires escape the village amidst accusations of murder (and later arson
Arson
Arson is the crime of intentionally or maliciously setting fire to structures or wildland areas. It may be distinguished from other causes such as spontaneous combustion and natural wildfires...
and kidnapping
Kidnapping
In criminal law, kidnapping is the taking away or transportation of a person against that person's will, usually to hold the person in false imprisonment, a confinement without legal authority...
), Poe is one of the few adults to maintain the Baudelaires' innocence and disbelieve the incriminating Daily Punctilio articles published by his sister Eleanora. When the Baudelaires return to the city to meet up with V.F.D.
V.F.D.
V.F.D. is a secret organization within the book series A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket. The purposes of the organization are never made clear, although the name of the organization is connected to various interpretations of the word "fire." V.F.D...
, Poe intervenes on a tip from a "J.S." (initials variously used by Jerome Squalor, Justice Strauss, Count Olaf
Count Olaf
Count Olaf is the primary antagonist of the children's novel series A Series of Unfortunate Events by American author Lemony Snicket. In the series, Olaf is an actor and is known to have committed many crimes as a member of the fire-starting side of V.F.D. prior to the events of the first book in...
, Esmé Squalor
Esmé Squalor
Esmé Gigi Geniveve Squalor is the secondary antagonist of the children's novel series A Series of Unfortunate Events by American author Lemony Snicket. She is Count Olaf's girlfriend. Prior to the events of the series she was a professional stage actress and member of V.F.D. Esmé is distinguished...
, and possibly others) with the intent of clearing the Baudelaires' names and restoring his role as executor, but the children refuse to accompany him. After Mrs. Bass rob
Bank robbery
Bank robbery is the crime of stealing from a bank during opening hours. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Uniform Crime Reporting Program, robbery is "the taking or attempting to take anything of value from the care, custody, or control of a person or persons by force or threat of...
s Mulctuary Money Management, Poe is placed in charge of the investigation, which leads him to the Hotel Denouement. When the hotel is set on fire, Poe is on the third floor. Whether he survives or not is left unanswered.
Personality
Although his primary responsibility in the books is to help the Baudelaires, the Baudelaires do not think he is helpful (Lemony Snicket describes him as being as helpful as a jar of mustard). His focus on his banking career seems to make him completely oblivious to the hardships and danger of the Baudelaires. Though the Baudelaires seem to be much more intelligent than Poe, he completely dismisses and ignores everything they say as "ramblings of little children". Some fans of the series believe that Poe is being deliberately unhelpful and ignorant - (that he is actually a villain or a member of V.F.D.V.F.D.
V.F.D. is a secret organization within the book series A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket. The purposes of the organization are never made clear, although the name of the organization is connected to various interpretations of the word "fire." V.F.D...
, although there is no evidence in the books to suggest this), this could also just be a result of his incompetence. In The Penultimate Peril, Justice Strauss at one point calls him "that idiotic banker." On many occasions he expresses a thought which is the exact opposite of what the Baudelaires are imagining, such as in The Vile Village when the Baudelaires comment that the death of Quigley does not change the birth identity of the Quagmires as triplets, while Mr. Poe says that the death of Quigley changes their birth identity, and in The Austere Academy
The Austere Academy
The Austere Academy is the fifth novel in the book series A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket. It was released in paperback under the name The Austere Academy: or, Kidnapping! The Baudelaire orphans are sent to a boarding school, overseen by monstrous employees...
when the Baudelaires interpret the term "cakesniffer" as an insult, while Poe interprets it as a "nice term that reminds him of pastry".
Career
Poe's employer is Mulctuary Money Management. This may indicate that Poe is after the Baudelaire fortune, and has purposely placed them in peril. However, it could merely be a satirical comment on the general perception of banks.In several of the books, he seems to be very excited about receiving a promotion. His title at Mulctuary Money Management in The Bad Beginning is not stated, but at the start of The Miserable Mill
The Miserable Mill
The Miserable Mill is the fourth of thirteen novels in American author Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events. It is to be released in paperback under the name The Miserable Mill; or, Hypnotism! The novel tells the story of the Baudelaire orphans continuing their adventure, but this time...
, while on a train to Paltryville, he announces to the children that he is now Vice-President in Charge of Coins. Then in the sixth book in the series, The Ersatz Elevator
The Ersatz Elevator
The Ersatz Elevator is the sixth novel in the book series A Series of Unfortunate Events by Daniel Handler under the pseudonym of Lemony Snicket. The Baudelaires are sent to live with the wealthy Esmé and Jerome Squalor.-Plot summary:...
, he becomes Vice-President in Charge of Orphan Affairs. Esmé Squalor deems him an "unstylish banker". After making a short appearance when he lets the Baudelaires choose a town at a new program where they let an entire village be a guardian of an orphan/orphans. Since then, he loses touch with the Baudelaires until a brief appearance of him in end of The Grim Grotto
The Grim Grotto
The Grim Grotto is the eleventh novel in the book series A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket.-Plot:The book begins where The Slippery Slope left off, with the Baudelaires traveling on a collapsing toboggan down the Stricken Stream of the Mortmain Mountains, leaving Quigley Quagmire...
on Briny Beach, right before the Baudelaires meet Kit Snicket.
Count Olaf
Count Olaf
Count Olaf is the primary antagonist of the children's novel series A Series of Unfortunate Events by American author Lemony Snicket. In the series, Olaf is an actor and is known to have committed many crimes as a member of the fire-starting side of V.F.D. prior to the events of the first book in...
reveals that Poe had adoption papers hidden under his hat at some point after his promotion to Vice President in Charge of Orphan Affairs (which occurs before the start of The Ersatz Elevator
The Ersatz Elevator
The Ersatz Elevator is the sixth novel in the book series A Series of Unfortunate Events by Daniel Handler under the pseudonym of Lemony Snicket. The Baudelaires are sent to live with the wealthy Esmé and Jerome Squalor.-Plot summary:...
); Mr. Poe is implied in the rare edition of The Bad Beginning to have something hidden under his hat. Olaf also mentions that "at the time" Mr. Poe was better known under his stage name, implying that Poe also works as an actor.
Presumed Death
Mr. Poe was staying at the Hotel Denouement investigating the robbery of his bank by Mrs. Bass when the hotel was burned down during The Penultimate PerilThe Penultimate Peril
The Penultimate Peril is the twelfth novel in the book series A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket.-Plot:The book starts off where The Grim Grotto left off...
, but it is unknown whether or not he escaped. It may also merely be Lemony Snicket's pessimistic writing style - the books offer no further information on Mr. Poe's fate. In The End
The End (A Series of Unfortunate Events)
The End is the thirteenth and final novel in Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events. It was published on October 13, 2006.- Plot description :...
, Mr. Poe does not appear, but an islander called Sadie seems to know Mr. Poe and his occupation.
Family
Mr. Poe has a wife (Polly) and two children, Edgar and Albert. They appear in The Bad BeginningThe Bad Beginning
The Bad Beginning is the first of thirteen novels in American author Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events. It was later released in paperback under the name The Bad Beginning; or, Orphans! The novel tells the story of three children, Violet, Klaus, and Sunny Baudelaire, who are orphaned...
. The names of his two children is a reference to Edgar Albert Guest, keeping with the trend throughout the books of literary allusions. He also has a sister named Eleonora Poe, a reporter for the Daily Punctilio, which references to the short story Eleonora
Eleonora (short story)
"Eleonora" is a short story by Edgar Allan Poe, first published in 1842 in Philadelphia in the literary annual The Gift. It is often regarded as somewhat autobiographical and has a relatively "happy" ending.- Plot summary :...
written by Edgar Allan Poe himself.
Film portrayal
In the 2004 filmLemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events
Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events is a 2004 black comedy film directed by Brad Silberling. It is an adaptation of the The Bad Beginning, The Reptile Room, and The Wide Window, being the first three books in A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket...
, he was portrayed by actor Timothy Spall
Timothy Spall
Timothy Leonard Spall, OBE is an English character actor and occasional presenter.-Early life:Spall, the third of four sons, was born in Battersea, London. His mother, Sylvia R. , was a hairdresser, and his father, Joseph L. Spall, was a postal worker...
. In the film, Poe remains overwhelmingly obtuse. He acts excessively patronising to the children, and is generally unhelpful with finding them new guardians and fulfilling his duty to keep them safe.
Appearances
- The Bad BeginningThe Bad BeginningThe Bad Beginning is the first of thirteen novels in American author Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events. It was later released in paperback under the name The Bad Beginning; or, Orphans! The novel tells the story of three children, Violet, Klaus, and Sunny Baudelaire, who are orphaned...
- The Reptile RoomThe Reptile RoomThe Reptile Room is a children's novel and the second of A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket. It was later released in paperback under the title The Reptile Room; or, Murder! Having just escaped from the greedy and evil Count Olaf in the first book, the Baudelaire children are now...
- The Wide WindowThe Wide WindowThe Wide Window is a children's novel and the third novel in the book series A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket. It was later released in paperback under the name The Wide Window; or, Disappearance! In The Wide Window, the Baudelaire orphans are sent to live with their third...
- The Miserable MillThe Miserable MillThe Miserable Mill is the fourth of thirteen novels in American author Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events. It is to be released in paperback under the name The Miserable Mill; or, Hypnotism! The novel tells the story of the Baudelaire orphans continuing their adventure, but this time...
- The Austere AcademyThe Austere AcademyThe Austere Academy is the fifth novel in the book series A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket. It was released in paperback under the name The Austere Academy: or, Kidnapping! The Baudelaire orphans are sent to a boarding school, overseen by monstrous employees...
- The Ersatz ElevatorThe Ersatz ElevatorThe Ersatz Elevator is the sixth novel in the book series A Series of Unfortunate Events by Daniel Handler under the pseudonym of Lemony Snicket. The Baudelaires are sent to live with the wealthy Esmé and Jerome Squalor.-Plot summary:...
- The Vile VillageThe Vile VillageThe Vile Village is the seventh novel in the book series A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket. After escaping Olaf once again, the Baudelaire orphans are taken into the care of a whole village, only to find lots of rules and chores, evil seniors, and Count Olaf and his evil girlfriend...
- The Grim GrottoThe Grim GrottoThe Grim Grotto is the eleventh novel in the book series A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket.-Plot:The book begins where The Slippery Slope left off, with the Baudelaires traveling on a collapsing toboggan down the Stricken Stream of the Mortmain Mountains, leaving Quigley Quagmire...
- The Penultimate PerilThe Penultimate PerilThe Penultimate Peril is the twelfth novel in the book series A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket.-Plot:The book starts off where The Grim Grotto left off...