The Man That Was Used Up
by Edgar Allan Poe
The story follows an unnamed narrator searching for the famous war hero John A. B. S. Smith. When others refuse to identify him, he suspects that Smith has a deep secret, instead only noting the latest advances in technology. When he finally meets Smith, the person must first gather piece by piece. Poe's satire is likely to actually refer to General Winfield Scott, a veteran of the War of 1812, the Mexican-American War, and the American Civil War. In addition, Poe questions a strong male identity and questions where humanity fell when machines became more advanced. (source: Wikipedia)
