Edgar Allan Poe
Edgar Allan Poe once said, “Words have no power to impress the mind without the exquisite horror of the reality.” Edgar Allan Poe experienced many hard times throughout his life; he lost his parents, was heartbroken, and much more. To many this may sound unfortunate, but Edgar Allan Poe changed this frustration and disappointment into great works that are still influencing our world and its people today.
Edgar Allan Poe, later to be nicknamed “The Father of the Detective Story,” was born January 19, 1809 in Massachusetts (“Edgar Allan Poe-Biography”). Poe’s parents were both in the acting business; however, Poe never got to truly know them (“Edgar Allan Poe-Biography”). His father left early on in his life and his mother died when he was three (“Edgar Allan Poe-Biography”). Poe was later separated from his siblings and sent off to live in Richmond, Virginia with John and Frances Allan. Poe formed a bond with Frances Allan, but he never ended up getting close to John Allan, who was a successful tobacco merchant (“Edgar Allan Poe-Biography”).
Poe didn’t want to follow John Allan’s way and become a tobacco merchant. Poe, who preferred poetry over making money, started writing poems on the backs of some of the Allan’s business papers (“Edgar Allan Poe-Biography”). Poe loved writing from the beginning of his life. Little did he know that he would grow up to become an American short-story writer, critic, poet, and editor (“Edgar Allan Poe.” internal). As Poe grew up he started looking at colleges and got accepted to the University of Virginia in 1826; however, he didn't receive enough funds from John Allan to cover all of his schooling (“Edgar Allan Poe-Biography”). With no money for college Poe turned to gambling to try and solve his financial problems, nevertheless he ended up in debt (“Edgar Allan Poe-Biography”). After falling into debt Edgar Allan Poe returned home to find out that his neighbor and fiancée, Elmira Royster, was engaged to someone else. Poe was frustrated and heartbroken, so he left the Allan’s (“Edgar Allan Poe-Biography”).
After being heartbroken Poe focused on writing his first book, publishing his first book, “Tamerlane and Other Poems,” in 1827 (“Edgar Allan Poe-Biography”). Around the time that Poe published his first book, he had joined the army after winning a spot at West Point in 1830. Before he went to West Point, Poe published his second collection, “Al Aaraaf, Tamerlane, and Minor Poems,” in 1829 (“Edgar Allan Poe-Biography”). Poe did well in his studies at West Point, but he was kicked out after only a year for poorly handling his duties (“Edgar Allan Poe-Biography”). Before leaving West Point, Poe fought with John Allan and Allan decided to sever his ties with Poe (“Edgar Allan Poe-Biography”). After leaving West Point Poe had to find a new place to stay, settling in Baltimore with his Aunt Maria Clemm and her daughter, Virginia (“Edgar Allan Poe-Biography”). When Virginia was thirteen she married Poe in 1836. She became Poe’s literary inspiration (“Edgar Allan Poe-Biography”). Later Poe moved to New York City, Baltimore, Philadelphia, and Richmond to search for a writing opportunity. In 1847, Edgar Allan Poe was overcome with grief by the loss of Virginia. He continued to work, but he suffered through poor health and struggled financially (“Edgar Allan Poe-Biography”).
The final days of Poe’s life were a mystery. Poe left Richmond on September 24,1849 and was supposedly on his way to Philadelphia (“Edgar Allan Poe-Biography”). He was found October 3 in Baltimore in great distress. He was taken to the Washington College Hospital where he died on October 7, 1849 in Baltimore, Maryland (“Edgar Allan Poe-Biography”). Poe’s last words were: “Lord, help my poor soul.” (“Edgar Allan Poe-Biography”). Some said that Poe died of “congestion of the brain,” but his true death is unknown still to this day (“Edgar Allan Poe-Biography”). There were four possible reasons for how Poe may have died: alcoholism, rabies, epilepsy, or carbon monoxide poisoning (“Edgar Allan Poe-Biography”). He was buried in Westminster Presbyterian Church in Baltimore (“Edgar Allan Poe Timeline”).
When Poe was in Richmond, in 1835, he went to work for the magazine Southern Literary Messenger, where he developed the reputation as a cut-throat critic for writing brutal reviews (“Edgar Allan Poe-Biography”). He even went to publish some of his own works in the magazine, including two parts of his only novel, “The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym,” (“Edgar Allan Poe-Biography”). In the late 1830s Poe published,“Tales of the Grotesque and Arabesque,” (“Edgar Allan Poe-Biography”). This collection of stories had some of his most spine tingling tales: “The Fall of the House of Usher,” “Ligeia,” and “William Wilson,” (“Edgar Allan Poe-Biography”). Poe did well at the magazine due to the aggressive reviews, but left in 1837. Some say that alcohol played a role in his departure (“Edgar Allan Poe-Biography”). He launched his first new genre of detective fiction by making, “The Murders in the Rue Morgue” in 1841 (“Edgar Allan Poe-Biography”). Poe spent his whole life in writing starting at a magazine. Little did he know that one day that aggressive reviewer would become a poet that many know today. Later in Poe’s life he got awarded for his great works, “The Golden Bug,” (“Edgar Allan Poe-Biography”). As Poe grew in his writing he started writing many great works that are still widely read today. Poe decided to pursue the theme of death and loss after writing “The Raven,” (“Edgar Allan Poe-Biography”). He went on to publish many more famous poems like: “The Tell Tale Heart,” “The Cask of Amontillado,” “Ulalume,” “The Bells,” and “Annabel Lee,” (“Edgar Allan Poe-Biography;” Giordano).
Though Poe did live a tough life, he didn’t let this pull him down. Poe held his head high and turned his grief and frustration into inspiration giving us amazing poems that many can relate to even now, over 150 years later. Poe went through tough situations, but he still lived a good life by overlooking those things; he gave the hope that there is light at the end of the tunnel and if there is perseverance great things are possible. A multitude of people may say that Edgar Allan Poe was a strange man but truly, looking at his accomplishments, he “[I] was never really insane except on the occasions when my heart was touched,” (Edgar Allan Poe).
Works Cited
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“Edgar Allan Poe Timeline.” shmoop. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 Apr. 2015. <http://www.shmoop.com/poe/timeline.html>.
Giordano, Robert. “Poe Stories.” poestories. N.p., n.d. Web. 2 Apr. 2015. <http://www.poestories.com/>.