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.

“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