Through this perspective, it would seem that Poe attempts to identify an affinity with the reader and uses foreshadowing to strongly caste the reader into the "know," rather than keep us in the dark of the hoax. The ape in this case is a classic symbol used by Poe to show us as the ultimate "dupes." He uses them to develop the idea of the narrator as simple minded and Maillard as the genius; the contrast between them forces the reader to gravitate towards the insane doctor, believing that he has the credibility behind the entire narrative. Thus when we finally learn that Maillard is in fact the insane individual all along, we are left with the magnitude of the hoax through its subtle interplay of respectability and trust. The apes themselves are a representation of the narrator's Id. When he first hears of the tarred and feathered staff he envisions them to be the sexual arousal of Mlle. Salsafette. Thus when they finally break in, the narrator is sexually distracted and can't help but think of them as the representation of apes. The narrator's interpretation of these men as apes reveals his own inner guilt and plays upon Poe's wish to mock the narrator for his dimwitted nature. Poe uses the imagery of ape as well as the theme of hoaxing the reader in another one of his narratives "Rue Morgue." In this narrative he similarly uses the interplay of madness and sanity in order to create an illusion for the reader who is involved in a complicated hoax. Unlike "Tarred and Fethered" however, "Rue Morgue" is a much more obscure hoax in that the connection between irrationality and sexuality are blended together into...

While "Tarred and Fethered" creates a clear dichotomy between the mastermind and the dunce, this distinction is encompassed within one individual in "Rue Morgue." In similar fashion, Poe uses the imagery of ape once again as a powerful driver and thematic element within his narrative. This time, the ape is the one has committed a murder, but everyone is left in the darkness until they ultimately realize they are duped. "Rue Morgue" is similar to "Tarred and Fethered" in their purpose, which is to provide an elaborate hoax for the reader, but "Rue Morgue" is much more complex, the reader does not have the advantage of jumping ahead of the narrator to create conclusions of the story, but rather must ride along with Dupin as he attempts to solve a murder.
Tarred and Fethered" as well as "Rue Morgue" are emblematic of Poe's style of humor. It is not intended to be "funny" in the traditional sense but is rather an elaborate hoax. Once the hoax is discovered the reader has a sense of "funny violation," in that we have discovered the hidden key and secret of the narrative. The projection of men as ape is a symbol of our base nature and the extension of our Id. This theme is strongly established through both of these narratives. Poe problematizes humor by consistently challenging us to identify the nature of his humor and who he is directing it to. "Tarred and Fethered" is an extremely elaborate hoax, and Poe uses the subtle contrasts between the genius and the dupe, to lure the reader further and further into his trap. In the end it appears harmless, as we confidently feel that we mastered the riddle. Poe presents the narrator of "Tarred and Fethered" as the final dupe, and leaves us only with a chuckle at the strange but fascinating tale.

Poe's Ape of UnReason: Humor, Ritual, and Culture, by John Bryant Nineteenth-Century Literature © 1996