Edgar Allen Poe's Cause Of Death

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Poe’s Cause of Death Have you ever wondered what killed Edgar Allen Poe. Many people still are wondering how and what caused the death of Poe. There have been many claims to how and what killed him, but this mystery has not been solved for sure. In my opinion, Edgar Allen Poe died from alcoholism because of his history, behavior and they way Poe was found. In Poe’s history there is evidence that shows he did struggle with the use of alcohol. For example, in “If Poe had Succeeded When He Said Nevermore to Drink”the text says,”Evidence of Poe's chronic binges is strewn through his letters, in periodic admissions of “recoveries” and promises to his wife, Virginia, and her mother to “reform”.”(Pollin and Benedetto) This quote shows how Poe showed/expressed …show more content…
When Poe was found it was discovered that he was not wearing his own clothes. This suggested that he had been robbed or cheated of his own. Now if Poe was not under the influence of alcohol he would have remembered why he was not in his own clothes. “Poe’s Final Days” says,” He wore neither vest nor tie, his dingy trousers fit badly, his shirt was crumpled, his cheap hat soiled.”(Silverman) This indicates that something had happened to Poe. Another point that supports this claim is when Poe arrived to the hospital he was hallucinating. This quote from “Poe’s Final Days” says,”He talked constantly, Moran said, addressing “spectral and imaginary objects on the walls.”(Silverman) If Poe had not been drunk he would have not been seeing things when he arrived to the hospital. Poe also showed his problems with alcohol through his location where he was found. Edgar Allen Poe was found on October 3, 1849 outside of a bar in Baltimore. This evidence shows that Poe had been inside of a bar drinking and how he had become drunk. In “If Poe had Succeeded When He Said Nevermore to Drink” the text says,”Poe was found outside a Baltimore saloon in an alcoholic stupor.”(Pollin and Benedetto) Like previously stated, this quote shows that Poe was drunk when he was found. Also, Poe had been inside the bar drinking, but many people can also say Poe died from …show more content…
Also, if Poe would have been bitten it could take up to a year for it to appear therefore that would also cause him not to remember it. The text says that Poe could barely drink water but definitely could not drink alcohol. It says if Poe would had had even a single sip of alcohol it would have make him sick for days. And when Poe drank water he was too scared to drink more than a sip. This is called hydrophobia, or fear of water. Poe showed all the signs and symptoms of dying from rabies. We know that Poe did not dye from rabies because there was no bite
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