How Did Edgar Allan Poe Impact Society

Seen as one of the most famous figures in American literary history, Edgar Allan Poe created the first modern detective story, “The Murders in the Rue Morgue” (1841). Poe worked as an editor and contributor to magazines in cities, such as Richmond, Virginia; New York City; and Philadelphia. Edgar Allan Poe, a mysterious poet from the mid 1800’s, made a large impact on American society through his short stories and poems, his work ethic, and his contributions to American literature. Poe’s childhood felt the absence of his father and death of his mother, which left him scarred and mentally disturbed, as seen through his later writing. Edgar Allan Poe was born on “January 19th, 1809 in Boston Massachusetts” (Ljungquist). Son of David and Elizabeth Poe, Edgar Poe had two siblings, William and Rosalie Poe. His parents were “travelling actors” who left him at a young age (Kennedy). His father abandoned his family almost immediately after his birth, and his “mom died in 1811” (Ljungquist) from pneumonia when Edgar was just two years old (Kennedy). The Poe children became orphans, and Edgar soon moved

He worked for Southern Literary Messenger in 1836 and Graham’s Magazine in 1841. “For the Messenger, Poe contributed reviews, original or revised poems and stories and two installments of The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym” (Ljungquist). As an editor of Graham’s Magazine, he contributed “The Murders in the Rue Morgue” (Ljungquist). In 1836, Poe married his 13-year-old cousin, Virginia Clemm ("Edgar Allan Poe"). Unfortunately, Virginia died in 1847 after five years of illness from Tuberculosis, and in the time of their marriage, Edgar and Virginia did not have any children (Ljungquist). Two years after Virginia’s death, Poe became involved with the widow, Sarah Elmira Royster Shelton, who he planned on marrying (Ljungquist). More importantly, soon after he married Virginia, his literary career began to take