ipl-logo

How Did Edgar Allan Poe Died Of Rabies

599 Words3 Pages

Edgar Allen Poe Died of Rabies
Edgar Allen Poe was a great poet and author, he wrote many classic tales. His death has been shrouded in mystery for years. There are many theories although the two dominant theories are rabies and alcoholism. This has been a debate for years in the writing and medical fields, his death is always going to be a mystery but we have a lot of facts in favor to the theory that he died of rabies. Rabies is a disease that is found in small rodents and those bit by said rodents, it has many side effects that are unique to the disease. There are minor coincidences for the alcoholism theory but no solid evidence.
Poe was found delirious outside of a Baltimore saloon in soiled clothes that didn’t fit him, he was unable to speak and the bartender took him in until his family got there to get him to a …show more content…

For a start Poe had a fear of water (hydrophobia). For the brief moments he was sane he refused to drink water, he wouldn’t drink alcohol either. Rabies victims tend to have hydrophobia and refuse to drink water because it hurts their throats. Another point is Edgar was delusional. He had mental problems to begin with but when he contracted the rabies virus they got much worse and he was seeing things that weren't there and saying things that made no sense. This is also common in rabies victims, they're mind goes berserk and they see and hear things. Another thing that helps in this theory is that rabies can stay in your body for one year without you showing any symptoms. Poe could have been bit or scratched by an animal with the disease and not remembered it and the mark would have disappeared. Lastly rabies victims do not remember getting bit by an animal. Poe did not remember getting bit by an animal, this is not solid evidence but it helps prove the theory even more

Show More
Related

Edgar Allan Poe Alcoholism Theory

147 Words | 1 Pages

This online article reviewed the many theories that surround the death of Edgar Allen Poe to date. The articled emphasized that the alcohol theory is the most commonly accepted cause of death recognized by majority of people. Even Poe’s good friend J.E. Snodgrass felt binge drinking caused his death. Other critics argued Poe was a victim of cooping, a practice that entailed bribing him with alcohol, thus forcing him to vote repeatedly in polling booths for a particular candidate, as Balitmore’s elections were notorious for political uproar and extortion. This would explain the conditions under which Poe was foundOthers suggested Poe died of other medical ailments ranging from brain tumors, heart disease, tuberculosis, rabies, epilepsy,

Read More

What Are The Theories Of Poe's Death

286 Words | 2 Pages

There have been many theories about the death of Edgar A. Poe. Many of these theories includes brain tumor, heart disease, flu, alcoholism, rabies, etc. The stories have been supported but, how accurate are they? Out of all the different theories, alcoholism and rabies are the most accurate ones. But, the most common and accurate one is that Edgar A. Poe died because of rabies.

Read More

How Does Life Affect Poe's Work

705 Words | 3 Pages

Edgar Allan Poe was an all around admired poet, but very few tend to actually learning about what made his horrific stories come to life. Many can say it was the loss of loved ones, including his parents and his wife. Others will argue that it was under the influence of alcohol. Although the reasoning is not written on paper, there is a worldwide assumption that all of these more than likely played a key factor in his dark

Read More

Did Cooping Cause The Death Of Edgar Allan Poe

663 Words | 3 Pages

Poe struggled with alcoholism for most of his life(Geiling). With this in mind, it is not surprising that someone related to cooping could easily tempt Poe with alcohol and get him drunk to a dangerous point. Another factor that could have contributed to his death is illness. Whilst preparing for his departure for Richmond during his final days, Poe contacted a physician due to weak pulse and fever; the doctor told him he was not fit for travel, yet Poe traveled anyway (Geiling). In addition, years later after having Poe’s body exhumed and reburied, a mass was found rolling around inside of his skull (Harris).

Read More

Why Edgar Allan Poe Died From Rabies Analysis

486 Words | 2 Pages

The letter also says” I suggest Poe got rabies from his cat” if this is true it would make sense because when he left his cat he started to get sick. The reason people think Poe did from rabies is because the evidence makes sense. In the letter Dr. Snodgrass said “on leaving Richmond Poe already had a fever.”. this tells us that he was sick so he couldn’t have died from alcoholism.

Read More

Edgar Allan Poe Rabies Theory

656 Words | 3 Pages

The cause of Poe’s death is still widely debated today. Poe died of encephalitic rabies because of the likeness of Poe’s symptoms and those caused by rabies, Dr.Benitez backs his rabies theory up with irrefutable scientific evidence, also Pollin and Benedetto try to disprove the scientific evidence provided by Dr.Benitez with false information that portrays them as unreliable sources. Poe’s symptoms were very similar to those of rabies. Benitez says that Poe refused alcohol and could barely drink water: “Rabies victims frequently exhibit hydrophobia, or fear of water, because it is painful to swallow” (“Poe’s Death” 187). This statement by Benitez shows that he was hydrophobic and was not drinking anything.

Read More

Alcoholism In Edgar Allen Poe's Death

478 Words | 2 Pages

Poe was found and brought into the hospital in a trance-like state with symptoms matching alcohol poisoning. Dr. Moran treated him up until his death where he observed and evaluated him for alcohol poisoning. Dr. Moran said, “He remained thus unconscious. . . when he developed a tremor of the limbs. . .

Read More

Edgar Allan Poe's Death Essay

501 Words | 3 Pages

Although some people feel that Poe was killed by Rabies. Evidence:The text states, “ On his fourth day at the

Read More

Edgar Allan Poe Died Of Rabies Research Paper

593 Words | 3 Pages

"In the brief period when he was calm and awake, Poe refused alcohol and could drink water only with great difficulty" (Dr. R Michael Benitez 187). If Poe refused alcohol then, he was probably never drinking it in the first place. " Poe was given a private room, reportedly in a section reserved for cases involving drunkenness" (Kenneth Silverman 184). I believe Poe was given a private room to not be bothered.

Read More

To What Extent Did Edgar Allan Poe Cause Of Death

374 Words | 2 Pages

It was said that his wife’s diagnosis of tuberculosis spiked his hunger for alcohol and gambling. What this will explain, is that Edgar Allan Poe died of too much alcoholic consumption on October 7, 1849,

Read More

Edgar Allen Poe's Cause Of Death

464 Words | 2 Pages

The final reason of why I believe that Poe died of rabies is because the idea that alcohol was the cause of his death does not support all the records of his condition days before he died. Though it is true that alcohol does cause many to forget about certain things, such as protecting one 's self from the harsh elements, it does not support the fact that Poe did not enjoy drinking anything while he was being hospitalized. It also cannot explain his severe hallucinations, imaginary friends, and outbursts of histeria and shouting. The idea that he may have had symptoms of rabies seems more plausible than just being really drunk. In conclusion, I believe that Edgar Allen Poe unfortunately died of symptoms of rabies, and not alcohol.

Read More

Who Is Responsible For Edgar Allan Poe's Death

825 Words | 4 Pages

There were no visible marks on Poe's body that would suggest that he had been beaten, nor were there any other telltale signs of robbery or violence. The theory regarding death from the flu has little concrete evidence to back it up. It is believed that a combination of the flu and pneumonia had killed Poe, however, the symptoms do not correlate to a usual flu infection. He was said to have a weak pulse, which is not a symptom of the flu and he would not have "caught" pneumonia from the weather as the theory concludes. Cooping would explain some of the circumstances surrounding Poe's death, yet I believe that while it is plausible, it is not the best theory.

Read More

Edgar Allan Poe's 'Baltimore Sun'

1357 Words | 6 Pages

“According to E.P.’s supervising physician, Dr. J.J. Moran, E.P. had been admitted to a hospital due to ‘lethargy and confusion’”(Geiling). Poe’s doctor was participating in a clinical pathologic conference, where he was given patients with a list of symptoms and he was to treat them and compare the results with others doctors in the conference. Poe was hallucinating and he was also very delirious. This theory fits perfectly and explains why he was unable to move and why he was in the condition that he was in. As I was saying previously one of the symptoms of rabies is the inability to move body parts and confusion.

Read More

Theme Of Mental Illness In Edgar Allan Poe

1470 Words | 6 Pages

Gathering all the evidence, I believe that Edgar Allan Poe was a victim of schizophrenia. Although no one can be sure, considering no one was able to diagnose him, the symptoms do add up. Without all of our medical advances, no one can imagine what Poe went through his life. He may have let his feelings and thoughts flow into his numerous pieces of writing. Whether his feelings and emotions flowed into his writing, or he purposely wrote his stories like that, which would make him an even better writer.

Read More

Similarities Between Mary Shelley And Edgar Allan Poe

1012 Words | 5 Pages

Poe died under very suspicious circumstances in 1849 when he failed to arrive in Philadelphia. He was found in Richmond completely disoriented and died in a hospital from “congestion of the brain” which could have been chronic alcoholism, drug use, poisoning or mental illness (biography.com). Both Mary Shelley and Edgar Allan Poe wrote about characters who were monstrous and very frightening. In many ways they were both monsters and not human.

Read More

More about How Did Edgar Allan Poe Died Of Rabies

Related Topics

Open Document