Edgar Allan Poe's Death Research Paper

Was the cause of Poe’s death alcoholism?

Many people wonder what the real cause of Poe’s death. Well, maybe this will help you choose. No one really knows how Poe died. There are many theories to his death. Many people think Poe died of alcoholism, while others think Poe died from rabies. However, Poe died of alcoholism because there is not enough evidence to support the theory that Poe died of rabies.

Poe was a known for his amounts of alcohol he took in therefor, Poe was a known alcoholic. “Many others who had known Poe, including the professionally trained Dr. Snodgrass, also attributed his death to a lethal amount of alcohol.” (Silverman pg.186). Many of the people that knew Poe, including Dr. Snodgrass knew he consumed lethal amounts of alcohol. “Poe may have become too drunk to care about protecting himself against the wind and rain.” (Silverman pg.186). Poe tried to drink his worries away, drank so much that he had gotten sick, and was too drunk to care about anything that was happening. “Although the terms were sometimes used euphemistically in public announcements of death from disgraceful causes, such as alcoholism.” (Silverman pg.186). Poe’s body had been shut down most likely caused by alcohol, however his death was listed in the newspaper as euphemistically of alcoholism.

Poe did not have the symptoms of rabies, therefor there was no way that Poe could have had rabies.

“Moran returned to find Poe violently delirious, resisting the efforts of two nurses to keep him in bed.” (Silverman pg.186). Poe could have been delirious because his brain was being shut down by the alcohol, and may have been hallucinating. “There was no evidence that a rabid animal had bitten Poe.” (Benitez pg. 187). If Poe was not bitten it would be almost impossible for him to have got rabies. “Guiltless was the pet Caterina, who, un-infected and showing no sign of rabies.” (Benedetto pg. 189). Poe’s dearly beloved pet cat was not infected with the dreadful

rabies.
No one had any proof that Poe had rabies. “Poe lacked a Bite or scratch from any animals.” (Benitez pg. 190). Without a bite or scratch from an animal Poe could not have gotten rabies, even the doctors said there was no proof. “Physicians knew how rabies were transmitted at the time of Poe’s death.” (Benitez pg. 190). If Poe had not been bitten and physicians knew how rabies were transmitted and they do not know how Poe died, he could not have died of rabies. “Poe was found in an alcoholic stupor outside of a bar.” (Silverman pg. 184) Poe drank so much that he simply did not care anymore, he eventually drank so much he went into an alcoholic stupor.
There are many different theories of how Poe could have died. The two main reasons that most people think are the cause of Poe’s death are of rabies or of alcoholism. Poe was known for the large amounts of alcohol he consumed. There is absolutely no proof that Poe could have died of rabies, physicians knew how rabies were transmitted and they didn’t know how he died so it could not have been from rabies. There is more evidence that Poe died of alcoholism rather than rabies having no evidence. Most people have no idea how Poe died. The most reliable theory is that Poe died of alcoholism.