Among the sundry influential writers in the history of American literature, Edgar Allan Poe claimed ownership of the fields he entered. Deeply burdened by the hardships of life, Poe’s famous stories changed American literature by introducing a new form of writing, the short story. His complex personality made it possible for him to resist interpretations and broad generalizations, and his heroic criticism set the standards high for years to come. In his efforts toward being one of the first writers to make a living solely by his pen, Poe is remembered as America’s greatest writer, and the writer of greatest significance in the world of literature. Born into a family deeply involved in the arts with both of his parents being dedicated actors,