Edgar Allan Poe: The Epitome of a Gothic Writer.
Edgar Allan Poe: The Epitome of a Gothic Writer
Gothic literature makes extensive use of primitive, medieval, wild mysterious, or natural elements. No Writer uses these elements to create such dramatic and strong effects as Edgar Allan Poe. He masters the Gothic story and is able to draw the reader deeply into his tales. The reader empathizes with the characters. Poe uses intense imagery and psychoanalytical subtleties underlying each work to produce a depth of sensations and sensitivity to all that creates fear, doubt, and tension in a human mind. His Gothic style prose emanates from his unusual and aberrant life style combined with a careful and deliberate effort to simultaneously attack the reader’s heart and head.
Poe’s writing is a derivative of his life. Only a person so deranged and freakish could produce such wildly creative and horrific work. Poe dysfunctional life began early as both of his parents died before he was four. Mr. and Mrs. John Allan brought Poe into their home and provided for him but never filled the emotional void in his life. Through the Allan’s, Poe was able to obtain a great education. He went to school in England for five years and Richmond for five years. Then, he entered the University of Virginia in 1826. Soon after beginning school at UVA, Poe acquired heavy gambling debts and became a hard drinker. John Allan moved him from the University in December of the same year he entered. Their quarrel over the debts was the last and most bitter of the many fights that occurred between them. In 1827, Poe enlisted in the United States Military Academy at West Point. A few years later, he was expelled for drunkenness and inattention to duty. Living by his pen, Poe never made much money, and his drinking habits kept him impoverished.