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Edgar Allan Poe Influences

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Sometimes the greatest stories are the ones left unsaid. In this, one could assume I am not talking about a hidden gem in the literary world, but about one of the greatest and misunderstood horror writers of the 19th century, Edgar Allan Poe. In his public persona many people would only grasp the basic story with Poe, but through 2 of his stories he will show so much more about himself. The stories mentioned are: "The Tell-Tale Heart" and "The Cask of Amontillado." Through this you can see Poe in a light brighter than those portrayed. Every tale has a beginning, and with Poe, it’s usually going to be a tragic one. We start in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1809, and as he is born Poe’s father leaves the family, following soon after his mother …show more content…

His family well off due to his father being a successful tobacco salesman, so he didn’t necessarily need to worry about money. Though he and his mother got along, compared to his father not so much. Mainly, because while his father wanted him to be his heir, he wanted the life of a poet as stated in the biography: on the back of business reports, Poe would write the occasional poem. Poe’s education was simple, until he was older he went to a boarding school in England. Afterwards, he came back and afterwards sent to the University of Virginia in 1826, though this is when tragedy started to strike. When he went to school, he didn’t receive enough funds from his father, embarrassed he tried earning the missing funds through gambling. Sadly, it failed. Causing him to return home to his family with debt and sorrows. He was to come home in complete despair, because he found out the love of his life married another in his absence. Heartbroken, he left. Trying to take control of his life, he published his first book: Tamerlane and Other Poems; along with publishing his book, he also joined the army by going to west point …show more content…

This story shows insight into his struggles with depression. One of the best examples of this is the opening: “THE thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best could, but when he ventured upon insult I vowed revenge” (Poe). Examples are found in the characters themselves. Fortunato our victim represents depression itself, while Montresor represents a person escaping it. This is shown with, Montresor murdering Fortunato by chaining him up, and burying him brick by brick. Throughout the story you can really see in the small details how Poe’s life has influenced this

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