Edgar Allan Poe’s short story The Purloined Letter revolves
around a stolen letter and the brilliant detective Dupin’s method of
retrieving it by understanding his adversary’s psychology. It raises
an intriguing question: Why does a letter always return to its
sender? In this essay, I will explore the nature of the letter/
signifier’s return, drawing on Lacan, Derrida, and Barbara
Johnson’s critical writings on this renowned short story. This
study will demonstrate that, despite their different theoretical
contexts, these analyses mirror the very story they examine,
raising questions about the legitimate role of the critic and the
problematic nature of meta-language.