The Man of the Crowd

The old man’s clothing and possessions are as mysterious as his behavior; the diamond and dagger that the narrator observes beneath the old man’s cloak serve as ambiguous symbols of an indeterminate identity. Diamonds are created under extreme heat and pressure, but when they are mined, they look rough, like coal. Like a diamond, the man has a rough and aged exterior, but underneath, there is something the protagonist deems valuable, making him stand out from the crowd.

However, like the contradictory emotions the narrator observes in the old man’s face, the diamond and dagger are contradictory symbols, representing the possible duality of this man’s identity. The diamond could be a marker of status, symbolizing the man’s possible wealth—similar to the “beautiful” linen he wears (Paragraph 14)—but like the man’s “filthy and ragged” clothing, the dagger could represent dangerous criminal behavior and “blood thirstiness” (Paragraph 13). By juxtaposing these two items, Poe reinforces the theme of Unknowable Secrets within the story. A symbol of wealth and status contrasted with a symbol of crime and violence raises questions about the man’s identity that by the end of the story still remain unanswered.