The Gold Bug | Quotes

The epigraph sets up readers to believe a bite from the gold bug turns Legrand insane, but the final attribution—All in the Wrong—hints that the insanity may be a diversionary tactic. (All in the Wrong is the title of an 18th-century Irish play by Arthur Murphy, but Poe seems to have misattributed the quote, whether by intent or accident. It is similar to one in a different play by Murphy.)

The narrator characterizes Legrand as a man who, like Poe himself, had lost everything and hoped to redeem himself by regaining his fortune.

Legrand manipulates Jupiter into believing he's insane to lure the narrator back to the island. Jupiter calling the bug "goole" references its color, but also hints that the bug is evil, or "ghoulish."

Legrand is obsessed with restoring his wealth and feels certain the gold bug will be the answer to his struggles. In the end, however, it's Legrand's intelligence and code-breaking skills that earn him the fortune.

The narrator fears Legrand has gone insane, largely because of Jupiter's assumptions about the bite Legrand received from the bug. For the rest of the story, the narrator goes along with Legrand's plans out of fear of angering a crazy man.

Legrand lashes out at Jupiter after he threatens to drop the bug from the tree. Their heated exchange is actually comedic and provides insight into their relationship. Jupiter, a freed slave, feels comfortable enough to tease his master despite Legrand's threats.

Jupiter assumes he knows the difference between right and left because he's left-handed. This assumption, which turns out to be wrong, characterizes Jupiter as dim-witted. This has created controversy with critics about racial stereotyping in the story.

The energy surrounding the second dig transforms the experience for the narrator. Swept up in Legrand's excitement, the narrator no longer fears for his friend's sanity.

After the treasure is revealed, Jupiter leaps into the pit and buries his arms in the gold, delighting in the newfound wealth but chastising himself for doubting Legrand. As a freed slave, emotional outbursts from Jupiter are more socially acceptable than they would be from an upper-class man like Legrand or the narrator, although they almost certainly felt the same way.

While recounting how he came to solve Kidd's cryptogram, Legrand notes the important role coincidence had in his success.

Legrand's comments about parchment versus paper have led critics to conclude Poe favored gold and silver currency rather than paper money, a significant social debate in 19th-century America.

Describing the cryptogram, Legrand boasts of his superior intellect and the ease with which he solved the puzzle, although it would have been difficult for the narrator or average reader.

This statement sums up Poe's love of cryptograms, which is arguably one of the main reasons he wrote this story—to show off his superior intellect while devising puzzles more accessible to his audience. It also describes his attitude toward ratiocination, the detective style he advocates in this and other stories.

The narrator thinks Legrand swinging the bug on a string is another sure sign of insanity. With these words, Legrand reveals the gold bug as having value only as a prop to convince both Jupiter and the narrator that he was going mad.

Legrand speculates to the narrator (and readers) that the skulls and skeletons found with the treasure were Kidd's fellow pirates and that Legrand might also be considering eliminating the others who will share in the treasure: the narrator and Jupiter. In typical Poe style, the story ends in mystery.