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Edgar Allan Poe Synthesis Essay

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Edgar Allen Poe Synthesis Essay: Alcoholism Edgar Allen Poe was a great writer who had a tragic death., and is a long controversy about how he died. There are many different theories of how he died, but no one knows how. One theory tells us that he could’ve died from alcoholism. Another theory points to rabies as a possible cause of death. However, alcoholism is the most reliable source because there is more information about his death of alcoholism than rabies. To begin, Poe’s location of death and the condition he was in all point toward alcoholism. “Poe was found outside a Baltimore saloon in an alcoholic stupor on Oct. 3, 1849 and died four days later.” (New York Times, pg. 189) If Poe was intoxicated, then all he would’ve had to do was walk outside. “No reliable evidence exists about what happened to or within Poe between that time and Oct. 3, a week later, when a printer named Joseph …show more content…

“It was election day for members of Congress, and like other local watering holes the tavern served as a polling place.” (Kenneth Silverman, pg. 184) One Election day, Poe died at the tavern, where people could’ve kidnapped him and drugged him. “Poe had a look of “vacant stupidity”. He wore neither vest nor tie, his dingy trousers fit badly, his shirt was crumpled, his cheap hat soiled. Snodgrass thought he must be wearing castoff clothing, having been robbed or cheated of his own. (Kenneth Silverman, pg. 184). Poe had a stupid look; not knowing what was going on. He was not even wearing his own normal clothes, but rather someone else’s. Snodgrass thought he had been robbed or cheated of his own self. “Apparently flooded with drink, he may also have been ill from exposure.” (Kenneth Silverman, pg. 184) Poe was intoxicated, people would purposely intoxicate people “to make them a different person’’, and send them to vote again multiple times for their candidate. Also the weather outside was terrible, it was rainy and

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