The name Poe brings to mind images of dark stories with madmen, murderers and premature burials. Edgar Allan Poe is one of the most celebrated authors in American literature. His reputation as a major figure head in both American and World literature is primarily based on his ingenious and fervent poems, short stories and critical theories, which set a powerful grounds for the short form in both fiction and poetry. Poe is regarded as the inventor of the modern detective and the short story. Edgar Allen Poe’s prodigal talents were most likely erected in his early childhood due to forlorn events such as the passing of his parents and struggles with gambling and debt. Edgar Poe was born in Baltimore, Maryland on January 19, 1809 to the travelling
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Poe struggled with his own demons since he was young. One of example of this is when Poe’s foster dad sent him to the highly renowned University of Virginia with no spending money; however he managed to rack up significant gambling debts, his foster father refused to pay his tuition and subsequently dropped out of school. After the army and a failed stint at West Point, Poe moved to Virginia and land an editorial job on the southern Literary Messenger in Richmond. He proved to be a successful editor, contributing to greatly increasing circulation. He began drinking heavily and again another piece of evidence of the effect of alcoholism in his life (“Poe, Edgar …show more content…
His stories were centered a character struggling with alcoholism, much like himself. In one of his most famous works “The Black Cat”, the Narrator’s alcoholism is what makes him ultimately loss grip of reality and commit the nefarious acts against Pluto the cat in the story and his wife. “The fury of a demon instantly possessed me” and “gin-nurtured, thrilled every fibre of my frame” this shows the theme of alcohol in the story and its influence on the erratic behavior the narrator displayed (Poe 520). The narrator seems to know his addiction but cannot overcome it. This is evident in the same line “fury of a demon instantly possessed me”, the demon he is referring to is alcohol. The references to alcoholism are apparent as well in Poe’s “The Cask of Amontillado”, published 1846 and also in first person. However in the “The Cask of Amontillado” the victim Fortunato is the one drunk not the murderer Montresor. This shows how alcohol can take control of you and cause impairment to judgement. In fact Poe in his own life relates his own work “The Cask of Amontillado” and the victim the character Fortunato. For example both Poe and his fictional character of Fortunato have good intentions and something either personal issue; moreover a tragedy of someone closing to him passing away. For Fortunato it was paying the price of when someone holds a grudge on you. Secondly in Poe’s
Poe struggled with his own demons since he was young. One of example of this is when Poe’s foster dad sent him to the highly renowned University of Virginia with no spending money; however he managed to rack up significant gambling debts, his foster father refused to pay his tuition and subsequently dropped out of school. After the army and a failed stint at West Point, Poe moved to Virginia and land an editorial job on the southern Literary Messenger in Richmond. He proved to be a successful editor, contributing to greatly increasing circulation. He began drinking heavily and again another piece of evidence of the effect of alcoholism in his life (“Poe, Edgar …show more content…
His stories were centered a character struggling with alcoholism, much like himself. In one of his most famous works “The Black Cat”, the Narrator’s alcoholism is what makes him ultimately loss grip of reality and commit the nefarious acts against Pluto the cat in the story and his wife. “The fury of a demon instantly possessed me” and “gin-nurtured, thrilled every fibre of my frame” this shows the theme of alcohol in the story and its influence on the erratic behavior the narrator displayed (Poe 520). The narrator seems to know his addiction but cannot overcome it. This is evident in the same line “fury of a demon instantly possessed me”, the demon he is referring to is alcohol. The references to alcoholism are apparent as well in Poe’s “The Cask of Amontillado”, published 1846 and also in first person. However in the “The Cask of Amontillado” the victim Fortunato is the one drunk not the murderer Montresor. This shows how alcohol can take control of you and cause impairment to judgement. In fact Poe in his own life relates his own work “The Cask of Amontillado” and the victim the character Fortunato. For example both Poe and his fictional character of Fortunato have good intentions and something either personal issue; moreover a tragedy of someone closing to him passing away. For Fortunato it was paying the price of when someone holds a grudge on you. Secondly in Poe’s