Edgar A. Poe: Victim of Rabies or His Own Debauchery? Kendra Hickman, English I – 1st Period NOTE: This presentation is basic and lacks character. It would meet the bare minimum requirements

Background Poe was a 19th century writer famous for his macabre poems and short stories such as The Raven and The Tell-Tale Heart. . In 1849, Poe was found in Baltimore, Maryland after missing for six days in “castoff clothing” and acting odd and in a “vacant stupor” (Silverman 184). A few days later, Poe died alone in a Baltimore hospital.

Thesis Poe’s death is mysterious in that some argue Poe died of alcoholism while others firmly believe Poe died of rabies. Most evidence suggests, however, that Poe died after going on an alcoholic binge which resulted in his death.

Accident or Vice? Because Poe went missing for a week and was found in a “vacant stupor” before he died – the theories of what happened to him have puzzled people for over 150 years (Silverman 184) Some suggest Poe died in a tragedy like one of his stories from rabies (Benitez) Others suggest Poe’s issues with alcoholism finally caught up with him and he perished from his own vices. (Silverman and Pollin and Benedetto)

The Case for Spirits - Testimonies Poe was known for being a notorious alcoholic throughout his life. In his letters to his wife, he claims repeatedly that he will stop drinking so they could be happy together (Pollin and Benedetto 189). The reason Stageman, his uncle, did not want to see him was that Poe was violent when he was drunk and would cause destruction if Stageman were to help him (Silverman 185).

The Case for Spirits – Details of his death Details from his re-appearance after going missing suggest alcoholism as the culprit. First, Silverman claims Poe was found in a tavern whose sole purpose was to serve alcohol (184). Poe was rushed to the hospital, he was placed in the unit specifically for alcoholics (Silverman 185). Poe’s doctor, Moran, claimed it was mania a potu, or cerebral hemorrhage caused by alcohol poisoning (Silverman 186).

Refuting the Sympathists One theory purported by Dr. Michael Benitez, a cardiologist at the University of Maryland, holds that rabies was the perpetrator does not hold merit However, this intriguing claim loses some of its authority when one takes into account that no bite or scratch marks were found on Mr. Poe. Additionally, Poe’s own cat did not have rabies and what is the likelihood that Poe, an urban liver, would encounter wild animals? (Pollin and Benedetto 188)

In Conclusion Poe’s death was as mysterious as his writings, which was an appropriate end for the master of macabre. While some claim it was rabies that ended him, evidence points toward good old alcohol being the perpetrator.