HOW DID THE DEATHS OF HIS LOVED ONES EFFECT HIS WRITING

-- Anonymous, March 20, 2003

Answers

The death of his wife created a deep saddness in his life. Verginia Clemm (his wife) died of tuberculosis and he loved her very much. The poem "The Raven" is about her. The Raven tells Edger that he will never see her again not even after he dies. He died outside of a bar in an alley because of alcoholism.

-- Anonymous, March 21, 2003

I think it hurt him beyond being able to cope artistically the older he got. For example he was simply to young to rmemebr his mother when she died, yet old enough poerhaps for subconscious imnpressions. He avoided discussing actual death anyway. I can't rmember him discussing or voicing sympathy for eith Lowell or Longfellow at the deaths of their wives. Mrs. Stanard, a childhood mentor and crush inspired "To Helen" in retrospect, a prominent symbol now and idealized. More would follw. Mrs. Allan was a real blow and not a poetic subject. The loss of his first love, Elmira Royster when her family separated them and married her to Shelton was the crucible. That drove him crazy and desperately into the arms of his cousin Virginia. Many idealized poems of women's death are built on that non-lethal experience. Time made it the major way to the Muse's well. (The Philosophy of Composition).

Again, as far as art was concerned the actual person disappeared. When Virginia died, that marital blond was an inescapable blow which gave him pause to bitterly scorn his attempts to idealize such a subject. But despite his incurable mourning(he never could bury any of his ghosts)his habits of art went on as before and Virginia did make her way into more pessimistic or impassioned poems like "Annie" "Annabel Lee" "Ulalume" whether stemming from his loss or his need to find another. Yes, that last seems contradictory and trteasonous but you have to walk in Poe's life quite a bit to appreciate the arrested grieving process and how he found his most painful yet needed inspiration in that very lonely imperfection. And how his nature was simultaneously attracted and repelled, normal and excited, reasoned and intutiive by turns and at the same time. From "To Helen" to "Annabel Lee" you move from reposeful hope to naked defiance from the goddess to the real woman, from great poem to great poem.

-- Anonymous, March 21, 2003

Ummm the person who answered this question first was wroung, his wife did not die of tuberculosis, his blood-mother did. Hios writing wasn't completely based of of the deahts of his wives, but it had a toll.

-- Anonymous, October 25, 2004

no both his mother and Viriginia died of TB

-- Anonymous, December 08, 2004

The deaths of his loved ones did shaped what he wrote and in fact there was rumored to be signs of gult in his short story the Raven, you know when his wife was dieing, because he wasnt a good husband instead he was abusive. but like i said it was rumored to be. there is no facts on that.

-- Anonymous, December 16, 2004

It is unknown how Edgar A. Poe. he could have died from alcholism but is also possible that he was beaten to death. i'm still doing research on it but if anyone is for sure how he died plz email me. :)

-- Anonymous, January 16, 2005