Social Influences In Edgar Allan Poe's Life

Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849) was an American poet and writer. He is predominantly known for his stories of horror and mystery and made his biggest mark in the genre of gothic fiction. Poe was born on January 19, 1809, in Boston, Massachusetts. He died at the early age of 40 from unknown causes (Edgar Allan Poe Biography.com). Even though he died early, his legacy will live on forever. His life was one of many sorrows and difficulties, filled with deaths and broken relationships. Poe could not be stopped from becoming a successful man. Poe lead a troubled life, that benefitted his life work. Poe became the person he was because of his personal, cultural and social interactions within his life.

Edgar Allan Poe’s personal life is somewhat unfortunate. Hopefulness is a word that one would steer away from in describing his life. His life was full of obstacles that he had to face and attempt to overcome. His parents where both actors who died before Poe was even three years old. His father left the family early in Poe’s life, and his mother passed away from tuberculosis (Edgar Allan Poe Biography.com). Killis Campbell, a literary critic, said “Few writers have lived a life so full of struggle and disappointment,

and none have lived and died more completely out of sympathy with their times (Campbell). Although he struggled in some aspects of life, he did not struggle academically. He went to multiple boarding schools and attended the University of Virginia where he excelled (Edgar Allen Poe Poets.org).
Poe was alive during the times of slavery and southern superiority.

He was very familiar with slavery because of his upbringing in Richmond, Virginia, a town that was very important to the slave trade. He largely distanced himself from the politics and culture of this time. He spent no time or energy defending slavery or the cotton culture. He was considered to be a racist because he was just as committed to the inferiority of non-whites as any other white American man (Edgar Allan Poe’s Religion and Political Views). A biographer, Kenneth Silverman, said “Poe disapproved of abolition, and truly believed black people were inferior” (Silverman). This shows that Poe’s racist actions were not an act to fit into the culture of this time, but were his true

feelings.
Edgar Allan Poe was extremely influenced by his social interaction with people. His literary talents were discouraged by his foster father, John Allan. He preferred that Poe would join the family business, but Poe continued to write his poems on the back of Allan’s business papers. Poe also never had a social relationship with his siblings. He was separated from his brother William, and his sister Rosalie and was forced to live with his foster family, the Allan’s (Edgar Allan Poe Biography.com). Growing up with no social interaction with siblings can be a disadvantage and leave you with bad social habits. Lorine Pruette says, “Most of the world deprived him of the love he so inordinately craved and seduced him to seek a vague nepenthe in the use of drugs and stimulants (Pruette). Pruette’s words show that Poe’s lack of personal relationships put a strain on his life and made him turn to harmful alternatives.
Edgar Allan Poe is one man who showed how you can turn an unfortunate life into a successful one. Although he had numerous struggles growing up, he figured out what made him enjoy life and perused it. He is one of the most successful poets of all time which is a great accomplishment. His difficult life lead him to become one of the greatest horror writers of all time. His own life resembles the horror and mystery that he writes about. Being given the title of “the father or horror and mystery” is and achievement that he should be satisfied with forever (Edgar Allan Poe Biography.com). Edgar Allan Poe has given Americans stories that will never be forgotten.