“He makes, in silence, a host of observations and inferences. So, perhaps, do his companions; and the difference in the extent of the information obtained, lies not so much in the validity of the inference as in the quality of the observation.”

In his preface, Poe outlines the fundamental characteristic of the detective within detective fiction: a state of quiet hyper-surveillance. The true analyst sees clues that “his companions” inevitably disregard as irrelevant. The necessity counterpart of observation is ingenuity and the ability to see beyond what lies before you, or “think outside the box.”

“[H]e ceased to bestir himself in the world or to care for the retrieval of his fortunes.”

Poe creates Dupin as a character who is a social outsider. The cerebral detective concerns himself with knowledge exclusively. He has little interest in companionship or financial gain but begrudgingly manages to tolerate these societal norms.

“I felt that the society of such a man would be to me a treasure beyond price.”

The emotional narrator is captivated by the “mental excitement” afforded by the company of Dupin. The narrator earnestly seeks this expert cognition for himself, signifying his desire to restore the split between heart and head.