Whether or not you are a literature buff, you must have heard the name, Edgar Allan Poe. An exceptional author, he is known for being the pioneer of detective fiction. But if you consider his life and his mysterious death, novels will seem more comforting to you. This article will talk about Poe's life and the circumstances of his death.
Life
Edgar Allan Poe was born in 1809 in Boston, Massachusetts. He first saw his father abandoning the family in his first two years, and his mother died the following year. He was taken care of by the Allan family. He could not complete his education because of a lack of funds and eventually enlisted in the army.
His military career was under a false name, and it was during these years he published his first collection of poems. He eventually turned to prose and worked in literary journals. We moved through several cities like New York, Philadelphia, and Baltimore. He married his cousin, who was 13 years old, in 1836, and she died in 1847. Two years later, on October 7, he was found dead under mysterious circumstances.
His Death
In 1949 it was decided that Poe would undertake a tour to raise funds for his literary magazine. He was supposed to cover the cities of Richmond, Virginia, Baltimore, Maryland, and New York, respectively. The fairy trip was supposed to begin on September 27. The night before, Poe had complained of a fever and consulted a doctor.
The following day he did arrive in Baltimore, but his whereabouts until October 3 are unknown. He was spotted at a tavern in Baltimore and did not respond to anyone trying to communicate with him. He was wearing clothes that were poorly made and not his own. Considering it an alcoholic stupor, he was admitted to the hospital.
He kept on hallucinating in the hospital and did not regain consciousness enough to tell what had happened during the past few days. He eventually died on October 7, and the hospital ruled out his cause of death to be brain congestion.
He kept on hallucinating in the hospital and did not regain consciousness enough to tell what had happened during the past few days. He eventually died on October 7, and the hospital ruled out his cause of death to be brain congestion.
Theories
Even if it was the congestion of the brain, the circumstances under which it happened remained mysterious, which sparked multiple theories as to what might have happened. Here are some of the popular ones:
Alcohol
Poe was considered an alcoholic problem and could not handle his liquor. He would get drunk even after a single glass of wine, and since he ended up at a tavern, all the theory centered around alcohol abuse. People who knew him suspected that he had fallen back into drinking too much, causing delirium and high fever.
However, this theory does not explain his fever before taking the ferry from Richmond. The hair sample from Poe’s body also indicates low lead levels, which means that he did not abuse alcohol.
Poe was considered an alcoholic problem and could not handle his liquor. He would get drunk even after a single glass of wine, and since he ended up at a tavern, all the theory centered around alcohol abuse. People who knew him suspected that he had fallen back into drinking too much, causing delirium and high fever.
However, this theory does not explain his fever before taking the ferry from Richmond. The hair sample from Poe’s body also indicates low lead levels, which means that he did not abuse alcohol.
Rabies
The delirium from which Poe kept drifting in and out is characteristic of late-stage rabies. He could not even drink water which is also characterized by rabies patients who fear water.
Violence
The theory about the author being beaten stems from him abusing alcohol and not understanding his actions. As per the theory, Poe was a victim of a violent crime and was left to his devices after being beaten up rather badly.
Violence
The theory about the author being beaten stems from him abusing alcohol and not understanding his actions. As per the theory, Poe was a victim of a violent crime and was left to his devices after being beaten up rather badly.
The Takeaway
Heavy metal poisoning, carbon monoxide poisoning, and even attempted or preplanned murder are some of the theories associated with Poe’s death. This mystery is not likely to be solved now. We can say for sure that the world lost a literary genius that day.
Heavy metal poisoning, carbon monoxide poisoning, and even attempted or preplanned murder are some of the theories associated with Poe’s death. This mystery is not likely to be solved now. We can say for sure that the world lost a literary genius that day.