Edgar Allan Poe > Misc.

FAQ

Was Poe an opium addict?
Was Poe an alcoholic?
Was Poe insane?
What was up with Poe marrying his own cousin?
What was up with that Griswold fellow?
What did Poe die of?
What were Poe's last words?

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Was Poe an opium addict?

There is very little evidence that Poe himself was an opium addict. In many of his stories, such as The Black Cat, the main character uses opium, and because such stories are often written in the first person, many people assume Poe was an addict. This may not be true: besides one letter sent to a friend where Poe admits to having had opium, there is no evidence that Poe EVER did opium. It is probable that Poe used opium at least for medical purposes, as was acceptable at the time, however Poe probably was not an opium addict.

Was Poe an alcoholic?

While Poe didn't drink all the time, and did have long periods of even years where he wouldn't get drunk, Poe was probably an alcoholic. When the owner of the Messenger threatened that he would take away Poe's job if he didn't stop drinking, Poe was unable to break the habit. It was not the last time drinking would cost Poe his job. It might be unfair to mark Poe as an alcoholic in some ways too: by many accounts by his peers, Poe was extremely sensitive to alcohol: it would only take a few drinks to put him in a frenzy.

Was Poe insane?

Poe never went to seek treatment, if he was insane, or felt he was insane. It would be a wise decision not to, because at the time, treatments for insanity were primitive at best and at worst: brutal. Poe wasn't stupid, if he was insane, he would have been smart enough to avoid treatment. My personal opinion, for all that it matters is that Poe was not insane, just deeply disturbed by the numerous tragedies in his life. In stories, such as The Tell-Tale Heart, Poe shows deep insight into the insane mind of the killer, however, there is no evidence that it was ever anything more than insight.

What was up with Poe marrying his own cousin?

While it was and still is unusual for somebody to marry his cousin, or marry anybody under the age of eighteen, there is no evidence whatsoever that their marriage was sexual. In fact, the evidence against it is greater. If their relationship was sexual, it would have been likely that there would have had a child eventual due to the primitive contraceptives available at the time.

What was up with that Griswold fellow?

Since their paths first crossed in 1841, where they both worked for Graham's Magazine, Poe and Griswold were suspicious of each other and forever become secrete enemies, each willing to get along and pretend to like each other, but loathing the other behind his back. As time went on, Poe and Griswold became more and more open in their hatred towards each other. After Poe died, Griswold wrote an article for the New York Tribune, where, though he was afraid of signing it by his own name (he used the name "Ludwig"), his true feelings for Poe finally come out. "Edgar Allan Poe is dead." He wrote "He died in Baltimore the day before yesterday. This announcement will startle many, but few will be grieved by it." Maria Clemm, to whom Poe's stories belonged after Poe's death (though they technically belonged to Poe's sister, Rosalie), believed Poe and Griswold false friendship to be true, and signed over the rights to Poe's work to Griswold. Griswold then published biographies about Poe which contained exaggerations and down-right lies about Poe, smearing his reputation - even for many many years after Griswold death, for no other biography was available.

What did Poe die of?

Poe was found next to a polling booth, in a state of semiconsciousness wearing cloths that didn't belong to him next to a polling booth, not far from a bar. When Poe left to travel to New York, he had as much as $1,500 on his person; when he was found, there was none, suggesting he was mugged and beaten. He was taken to a hospital where he died. What he died from will always be a mystery.

What were Poe's last words?

Some sources say Poe's final words were "It's all over now; write 'Eddy is no more. (Referring to his tombstone)' " Others say his last words were "Lord, help my poor soul."