Edgar Allan Poe

Who has not heard of Edgar Allan Poe? Who has not read his gloomy masterpieces? Who has not been mesmerized by the darkness, the frightening action, the disturbing plot and the ironic, breath-taking finales portrayed in them? This writer has transformed into not only one of the most prominent literary figures of the 19h century, but of all epochs.

Edgar A. Poe was born January 19, 1809 in Boston, Massachusetts to a pair of disgraceful touring actors. After the distressing and tragic death of his parents, an adopted Poe was raised in the house of uncle John Allan, from whom he took the last name. From an early age, Edgar started forging his character through various important factors that influenced his intellectual development, including his deep English inheritance and the uncertain political situation of the country ("Poe, Edgar A.").

During his dull and monotonous infancy, Poe received his formal education in England and North America, attending private schools, where he exhibited an intriguing interest in Latin and French. At that point, his linguistic talents began to evolve by the creation of poems, which caused a long list of women to "fall for him." His college life at the University of Virginia turned him rebellious and libertine. It is during this time in his life when Edgar started drinking; a few cups were enough to drive him insaneÐ'--apparently, he could not tolerate alcohol.

Throughout his entire youth, Poe constantly had altercations with his stepfather, despite how much he desired to eradicate the problems. The atrocious tribulations grew to the point in which both relatives decided to cut their family bond. In addition to all the troubles, Edgar's financial situation seemed to be at its worst possible shape (Lafayette 74).

A more mature Poe decided that his next step would be traveling to Boston in search of new opportunities. In 1825, he married Virginia Clemm, his thirteen year old cousin. Such a marriage would later collaborate, although precariously, with his deteriorated mental equilibrium. During his settlement in Boston, Poe started writing his first poetry collection, portraying his deep admiration for Lord Byron. The volume, which eventually would be identified as "Tamerlan," was published in 1827. Later on, Edgar started developing a style of his own. By reading "Poetries," which was published in 1831, the audience detected the intended frightening tone that the author printed in his work.

Due to the untouchable success that still not arrived, misery and hunger accompanied Poe throughout his thirties. He had no other choice but to enroll himself in the army, from where he was shortly expelled. After the distressing experience, Edgar decided to completely submerge his career in literature. During the period from 1835 to 1846, he acquired mediocre positions at various newspapers and magazines. His profession as a reporter and critic was characterized by the acuteness and cruelty of his style as well as for the pathetic wages he received. His lack of ability to settle down caused him to move continuously between Boston, Baltimore and New York. He complemented his news press activity with the publication of his writings, one of which drastically changed his life foreverÐ'--"The Raven." This famous poem was the anticipated incentive that drove him to fame and glory (Nunez 15).

The last years of the writer seemed to be disastrous. In 1847, tragedy struck PoeÐ'--his wife died as a victim of tuberculosis. Still drowned in desolation and despair, the author accomplished to end, in 1849, the poem entitled "Eureka." With Virginia's death pierced in the interior of his soul, the life of the piteous poet crumbled down. Although he attempted to maintain relationships with Sarah Helen Whitman and Elmira, his childhood sweetheart, Edgar arrived at a point of no return. By the early dawn of October 7, 1849, Poe encountered the moment of his ultimate defeat. His last words were: "May God help my poor soul" ("Biography: Edgar Allan Poe").

Edgar Allan Poe not only portrayed a personal storyline pervaded with singular drama and uniqueness, but he also exhibited through his writing art pieces, his capacity of transporting readers into a hauntingly-atmospheric universe. There, an unnerved audience can stumble across horrifying and creepy situations as well as demoralizing scenarios that only prove the grandeur of the author himself.

Throughout his depressing life, Poe wrote approximately seventy tales, including a series of love poems. His most notorious and distinguished masterpieces comprise "The Black Cat," "Eureka," The Fall of the House of Usher," "The Raven" and doubtlessly the "The Pit and the Pendulum, "an enthralling narrative (Lafayette 72).

"Ð''The Pit and the Pendulum,' a famous and acclaimed tale written by Poe is considered one of the most daunting stories of the horror literature" (Nunez 19). It transmits the abandonment, the disorientation, the uncertainty