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Edgar Allan Poe: The Man in the Crowd |
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Drug addict, alcoholic, suicidal, and insane; none of these are the words that come to mind when you think of great minds of our time. However, one poet fits all of these categories. The author of hailed literary works such as "The Raven," and the short story, "The Fall of the House of Usher," Edgar Allan Poe had many mental and personal problems throughout his life. His poems reflect his emotions toward the events of his life. For example, his feelings of isolation from family and peers appear in the poem "Alone," and many of his poems, such as "To Helen," and "Annabel Lee," are about the women he loved. One poem stands out, as a tribute to the melancholy that accompanied him throughout his days; the poem "A Dream" speaks of lost love, forgotten happiness, hope, and a cruel awakening to the real world. Poe’s writing exemplifies his brilliant imagination through metaphors that describe his life. |
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| Poe’s early life had much influence on his writing and adult character.
His parents died when he was three and the Allan family raised him; he
took Allan as his middle name as a demonstration of gratitude. At first
regarded as their adopted son and heir, Poe’s life with the Allans was a
pleasant one. He attended Manor School at Stoke, Newington, and later the
University of Virginia. Mrs. Allan felt affection for her adopted son, but
he was never legally accepted into the family. In this happy home,
however, there were drawbacks. John Allan, his substitute father, did not
approve of Poe’s fondness for writing. Ignored by Allan during his time at
the University of Virginia, Poe began to drink and gamble heavily. This
had a disastrous effect on his previously brilliant academics and
reputation. Upon discovering Poe’s inadequacies, Allan refused to allow
him to return to school. Their relationship ended over an argument when
Allan attempted to force Poe to study law rather than poetry, and the
optimistic young man headed north to further his literary career, with
secret financial help from Mrs. Allan. Forced now to live off his own
skills, Poe worked for Boston newspapers, and various magazines. Over the
next few years, Poe did clerical work in the army and partially amended
his relationship with his "foster-father." In these years, Mrs. Allan died
and despite urgent requests to Mr. Allan, the brokenhearted Poe was not
allowed to visit until after she was buried. Formally disowned by his
surrogate father a few years later, Poe went to New York to advance his
writing career. His first notable success was winning a newspaper contest with a prize of $50 for the best short story in October 1833. With great financial assistance from John P. Kennedy, Poe became internationally famous for his poems and short stories. He married his 13-year-old cousin, Virginia Clemms in 1835 or 1836. To Poe’s despair, his bride died at 24 from a burst blood vessel. His poem, "Annabel Lee" portrays his grief. Virginia’s death increased the problems Poe had had since his teenage years: alcoholism, drug addiction, and depression. Poe’s life began to go downhill. He continued to battle suicidal melancholy, attempting to kill himself in 1849. The brilliant, if eccentric poet’s discontented life ended from "acute congestion of the brain;" Poe was found in a delirious condition in a gutter on the streets of Baltimore. Four days later, the desolate man had gone to his grave. Edgar Allan Poe made many contributions to the world of literature and poetry. The academy of American poets says, "Poe's work as an editor, a poet, and a critic had a profound impact on American and international literature" (http://www.poets.org/poets/). He was the first true writer of thriller and horror stories, with tales such as "The Cask of Amontillado." His clever mind dramatically altered detective stories, he took the writing of short stories from a mere profession to an art, and he was a brilliant poet. His fame was known through America, England, and France, with renowned works such as "The Raven," "The Bells," "The Purloined Letter," and countless others. Though a troubled individual, Poe’s effect on literature and poetry was mind-blowing. It is impossible to read a poem or story written by Edgar Allan Poe without being terrified, feeling great remorse for the characters, and noticing the breathtaking power with which Poe wields his words. |
Alone (1830) |