The Controversy Of Edgar Allen Poe's Death

The death of Edgar Allen Poe a controversy in itself Edgar Allen Poe, a magnificent writer of death, despair, and detective novels, had a death as mysterious as his writings. This mystery leads to two possible causes (alcoholism and Rabies), however many doctors say that Poe could not have died from alcoholism. Also, evidence leads some to think Poe could have died from Encephalitis or Rabies. Finally, most of Poe’s symptoms are related to those of Rabies. For some, his death may be forever an unsolvable puzzle, but for others the answer to the mystery is Rabies. There are some opinions that Poe may not have died from Alcoholism. One piece of evidence for this is in a quote from an article written by Kenneth Silverman that says “Moran later vigorously disputed this explanation however, and some Baltimore newspapers gave the cause of death “congestion of the brain” or “cerebral inflammation” (Silverman 186). Moran was a doctor that had actually spoke to and treated Poe, this being the case his opposition of the …show more content…
“There has been thirty-three reported cases of human rabies, yet only twenty-four percent of these victims could recall an appropriate history of animal exposure” (Benitez 190). Poe could not remember things in the hospital, like how he even got there, and did not remember even being bitten which is like the cases described in the quote above. Michael Benitez says in his article that Poe on his last grew “confused and belligerent” before he died (187). Doctor Benitez states that spasms like these are a “classic case” of rabies. Kenneth Silverman wrote that Poe was frequently calling out someone’s name and before he died said “Lord help my poor soul” (186). Rabies attacks the central nervous system, which can cause symptoms that can relate to Poe’s actions such as depression. These symptoms are some of the only solid evidence that could help solve Poe’s