THE LIFE OF EDGAR ALLEN POE

Edgar Allan Poe is a well-known author who wrote many poems, short stories and one novel. He particularly liked to write horror fiction, adventure, detective fiction and science fiction; some of his most famous works being The Raven and Stories for Halloween. A lot of people know and love his writing, but how many know about him as a person?

Poe was born on the 19th of January, 1809 in Boston to parents Eliza and David Poe. While Poe was still an infant, his father abandoned the family, leaving Eliza to raise three young children on her own. Sadly, Eliza contracted tuberculosis and died on the 11th of December 1811; leaving a two year old Poe to be taken in by Virginians John and Frances Allan. Despite this, Poe was never officially adopted, leading to constant tensions between Poe and John. Because of this, he became Edgar Allan Poe as he did not officially take their last name.

Teenage Poe enjoyed a life of the upper elite class. In 1824, he was a member of a junior honour colour guard that escorted legendary Revolutionary War general, Marquis de Lafayette around Richmond, Virginia. They stopped to visit the Ege family, as they had assisted during the war. Poe stood guard on the steps outside of the Old Stone House, and 98 years later, it is now the Poe Museum.

When he was 17, he travelled to Charlottesville to attend the University of Virginia, but by doing this, he left behind his fiancé, Elmira Royster. She promised to wait for his return after graduation to wed. Poe was a talented student, but he arrived at the university with only $110 to pay his tuition fees. The fees were three times what he’d bought with him, so he raised the funds himself. Despite his best efforts, he accumulated a debt of $2000. After a few months, he returned back to Richmond, Virginia disappointed and still feuding with his foster father. To make it worse, Elmira was engaged to someone else. Her father had intercepted Poe’s letters to her and steered her in the direction of engagement with a man who could promise something Poe could not. The other man promised to be a successful businessman and respectable citizen.

After this, Poe returned to Boston where he published his first collection of poems, “Tamerlane and Other Poems”, under the pseudonym “A Bostonian”. He didn’t stay in Boston for long, however. At the age of 18, he joined the army under the name Edgar Perry. He did exceptionally well during his time in the army; becoming Sergeant Major after only 2 years. He then went on to study at West Point. Once again, he did well academically but ran into financial difficulties. Due to extreme dereliction of duty, he was expelled from the academy on the 6th of March, 1831, and moved to Baltimore.

While in Baltimore, he lived with several relatives, which included his aunt Maria Clemm and her daughter, Virginia. In the four years he lived in Baltimore, he shifted from writing poetry to writing short stories. The publishing firm, Southern Literary Messenger based in Richmond, took a special interest in Poe. He published Metzengerstein which is considered to be his first horror story. Berenice was so graphic and horrifying, that the magazine had many complaints about publishing it. Editor Thomas White offered Poe a job working on the staff of the magazine, and upon accepting the offer Poe moved back to Richmond.

Soon after joining the staff of the Messenger, he began to have issues with White, which most likely stemmed from his drinking. He invited his aunt and cousin to live in Richmond. They accepted, and a year later he and Virginia were married. She was 13 and he was 27. This is just one reason for the debate and scrutiny surrounding their marriage. He often called Virginia “sissy” (sister) and Maria “muddy” (mother). Many people today assume that their relationship was familial but there is no knowing what happened behind closed doors. The two women seemed to have a stabilising effect on Poe as he was happier and more reliable during this period. Poe left Richmond and the Messenger in 1837 to enjoy his prime years of literature.

During this time, he wrote –
The Tell-Tale Heart
Masque of the Red Death
The Black Cat
The Pit and the Pendulum
The Gold Bug
The Fall of the House of Usher
The Murders in the Rue Morgue

“The Murders in the Rue Morgue” is very important, as it is cited as the first detective fiction story. Poe was the first to write about eccentric geniuses who solve crimes. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (author of Sherlock Holmes) cited Poe’s character, C. Auguste Dupin as the inspiration for the character of Sherlock Holmes himself. He was also a pioneer of science fiction, and surprisingly, most of his stories are comedies.

He wrote many stories in many genres, but his horror stories are what most know him for. He revolutionised horror. He often wrote that the true monster was the capacity for evil inside people; and the horrors that happen when that evil is acted upon.

The Raven, published in early 1845, is his most famous piece. It made him an overnight success! Poe was already known in many literary circles, but this made him a household name. He only made $15 from the publication, but it set up many financial opportunities for him such as holding lectures and taking on literary clients. Poe was the first American to be able to live fully off his money earned from writing. However, for most of his adult life, he struggled to financially support himself and his family.

Unfortunately, Virginia was exhibiting symptoms of Tuberculosis, which killed nearly 4 million people in the 1800s, and death came for her in 1847 after she had been ill for a number of years. She was only 24 years old. Poe never fully recovered from losing his wife, whom he leaned on for support and who he loved. He began to drift back to the city of his childhood – Richmond.

While there, Poe relit the fire that was his relationship with Elmira Royster Shelton. She was now a mother and a wealthy widow. To the dismay of her children, she and Poe became engaged in 1849. He planned to move permanently to Richmond to spend his life with Elmira. He then planned a trip back to New York to bring his aunt Maria with him to the city. He also planned to see a client in Philadelphia on the way up the coast.

September 26th, 1849 was Poe’s last day in Richmond. After his recent bout of Cholera, Elmira was worried about his fragile health and encouraged him to visit a doctor who was also a friend. He did, but only as a social visit. He then had a late meal at Sadler’s restaurant. At 4am on September 27, 1849, he boarded a ship to Baltimore. Between September 27 and October 3rd, there is no record of his whereabouts.
On October 3rd, in Gunner’s Hall Tavern in Baltimore, Poe was found delirious. He seemed to be drunk and wearing someone else’s clothes. He was then taken to Washington University hospital. In the next 4 days, he drifted in and out of consciousness. At times, he was alert. At other times, screaming at what seemed to be nothing and no one.

October 7th, 1849. This is the day Edgar Allan Poe joined his mother and wife. In other words, he was dead. The cause? The doctor wrote “phrenitis” (inflammation of the brain). Commonly used when the true cause of death is a mystery. Due to these mysterious circumstances and Poe’s persona; there is much speculation and debate concerning the true manner of his death. So far, there are 26 published theories concerning his demise.

The death of Edgar Allan Poe was untimely and unfortunate. However, it was fitting for a man who wrote mystery and horror. Even in the afterlife, he continues to write a tale of mystery that will echo down the literary hall.