Poe's Death Literary Analysis Essay
LITERARY ANALYSIS ON POE’S DEATH 1
LITERARY ANALYSIS ON POE’S DEATH
RADFORD UNIVERSITY
THOMAS HOUGH
12-5-2013
LITERARY ANALYSIS ON POE’S DEATH 2
Abstract In this paper I will talk about two of the ways people believe that Edgar Allan Poe died. Because Edgar Allan Poe was a drinker many people believe he died as a result of drunkenness. Others believe that Poe died due to the fact that he had rabies. I will talk about those two theories of his death from two different peoples point of view.
LITERARY ANALYSIS ON POE’S DEATH 3
Edgar Allan Poe died on October 7, 1849 at Washington College Hospital. All medical records, documents and even Poe’s death …show more content…
The rabies theory suggests that Poe did not die drunk in a gutter in Baltimore but rather of rabies. The researcher, Dr. R. Michael, a cardiologist who practices a block from Poe’s grave, says “it is true that the writer was seen in a bar on Lombard Street in October around the same time of his death” (Benitez, Sept 15, 1996 page 1). When Poe entered Washington College Hospital, Dr. Benitez said, “Poe was perspiring heavily, hallucinating and shouting at imaginary things. The next day he seemed better and could not remember falling ill” (Benitez, Sept 15, 1996 page 1). On Poe’s fourth day at the hospital, Poe again started getting confused and belligerent before quieting down and dying. In the brief period when he was calm and awake, Poe refused alcohol and could barely get down water. Rabies victims frequently exhibit hydrophobia, which is a fear or water because it is painful to swallow. There is no evidence that a rabid animal had bitten Poe. About one-fourth of rabies victims reportedly cannot remember being bitten. After an infection, the symptoms can take up to a year to appear. But when the symptoms do appear, the disease is a swift and brutal killer most likely patients die in a few
LITERARY ANALYSIS ON POE’S DEATH
RADFORD UNIVERSITY
THOMAS HOUGH
12-5-2013
LITERARY ANALYSIS ON POE’S DEATH 2
Abstract In this paper I will talk about two of the ways people believe that Edgar Allan Poe died. Because Edgar Allan Poe was a drinker many people believe he died as a result of drunkenness. Others believe that Poe died due to the fact that he had rabies. I will talk about those two theories of his death from two different peoples point of view.
LITERARY ANALYSIS ON POE’S DEATH 3
Edgar Allan Poe died on October 7, 1849 at Washington College Hospital. All medical records, documents and even Poe’s death …show more content…
The rabies theory suggests that Poe did not die drunk in a gutter in Baltimore but rather of rabies. The researcher, Dr. R. Michael, a cardiologist who practices a block from Poe’s grave, says “it is true that the writer was seen in a bar on Lombard Street in October around the same time of his death” (Benitez, Sept 15, 1996 page 1). When Poe entered Washington College Hospital, Dr. Benitez said, “Poe was perspiring heavily, hallucinating and shouting at imaginary things. The next day he seemed better and could not remember falling ill” (Benitez, Sept 15, 1996 page 1). On Poe’s fourth day at the hospital, Poe again started getting confused and belligerent before quieting down and dying. In the brief period when he was calm and awake, Poe refused alcohol and could barely get down water. Rabies victims frequently exhibit hydrophobia, which is a fear or water because it is painful to swallow. There is no evidence that a rabid animal had bitten Poe. About one-fourth of rabies victims reportedly cannot remember being bitten. After an infection, the symptoms can take up to a year to appear. But when the symptoms do appear, the disease is a swift and brutal killer most likely patients die in a few