Edgar Allen Poe and "The Cask of Amontillado"

    The Tragedies of Poe and "The Cask of Amontillado"

                Edgar Allen Poe was a dark and dramatic writer who produced influential, emotionally charged poems and short stories in the 19th century. These stories still have a strong effect today. 

                                                                                  Before the Storm Rolled In

A photograph of Poe circa 1845  (5)
 Poe was born in 1809 in Boston. (1) His parents died, leaving him to be fostered by an export from Richmond who sent Poe to prestigious schools, yet failed to financially support him the whole way through. Their relationship deteriorated, and Poe joined the army in 1827 to get away. (4) He later attended West Point where he published his first collection of poetry. He was discharged due to Allen's financial neglect. Poe then moved to Baltimore to live with his aunt and his cousin Virginia. Poe continued to publish poems and short stories, and he gained recognition for his work. He continued to thrive until his wife died of tuberculosis, when his depression and alcoholism took control of him. 


Poe in his own Stories
    
Many of Poe's works reflect his self awareness of his alcoholism and other issues. One of these in particular, "The Cask of Amontillado," stands out the most as a cautionary tale that Poe has the credit to tell. The most significant theme of this short story is that falling slave to alcohol will cause your demise. The man who met his demise due to wine was Fortunato, and he allowed his thirst to rule his decision making rather than his head. He died in the catacombs, walled up alive. (2) This seems to be a metaphor for Poe. He walled himself up alive with alcohol. 
Poe and his wife Virginia (5)

                    Losing the Fight

    This seemed to be Poe expressing his own feelings towards alcoholism. Poe losing himself to his alcohol addiction also lost him career opportunities, relationships, and his reputation. (3) Poe acknowledged this through his work, but he was not strong enough to change, even though he knew he was destroying himself. Although mystery revolves around his death, alcohol may have been the cause. One theory is that he died of encephalitis after binge drinking, and another theory is that he died of the cold. A likely explanation for this was that he passed out drunk in the cold and died. (3) In the end, his struggles got the better of him, though the wise lessons woven in his tales still hold up today. 


Poe's character Montresor walling up Fortunato (6)
 

Resources

1. “Edgar Allan Poe.” Poetry Foundation, Poetry Foundation, www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/edgar-allan-poe.

2. “About.” Edgar Allan Poe Museum, 3 July 2021, poemuseum.org/the-cask-of-amontillado/.

3. “Edgar Allan Poe, Drugs, and Alcohol.” Edgar Allan Poe Society of Baltimore - General Topics - Edgar Allan Poe, Drugs, and Alcohol, www.eapoe.org/geninfo/poealchl.htm.

4. “The Life and Times of Edgar Allan Poe.” National Parks Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, www.nps.gov/edal/learn/historyculture/timelines-lifeandtimespoe.htm.

5.  Mdhslibrarydept. “Poe and Alone.” Maryland Center for History and Culture, 3 Apr. 2014, www.mdhistory.org/poe-and-alone/.

6.  Caskofamontillado. “Summary.” The Cask of Amontillado, 10 Dec. 2013, caskofamontillado.wordpress.com/category/summary/.

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