How did the use of drugs and alcohol affect poe while writing the Tell-Tale Heart, The cask..., THe PIt.. and The House of Usher. Thank you

-- Anonymous, May 05, 2003

Answers

The best answer is given by Stephen King in his bio manual "On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft". Substance abuse kills art though art lurches on through the haze. Mainly what Poe discovered about himself, the dark side released or excited by drink laid the foundation for the wild self-destructive tendencies of some of his characters. "The Black Cat" and "Hop Frog" show the effects of drink as Poe may have experienced it.

This is not the sort of reflection you make WHILE drinking but after, in the cold light of dawn. See also Charles Baudelaire's "Les Paradis Artificiels" with his own biting judgment of the heavy opiates he was taking. For Baudelaire the ups and downs were also important, but more visual opium imagery than Poe.

Better ask about the several ways drink hurt his life and career and several important public occasions and job loss disasters.

-- Anonymous, May 07, 2003