Does anyone have information on the symbolism that Poe used relating to being buried alive ("The Cask of Amantillado"), the buried not staying buried ("Fall of the house of Usher", "The Tell-Tale Heart"), TB ("Masque of the Red Death"), as well as the deaths of Virginia Clemm ("Annabel Lee") and his Mother.

My thesis is that many of the events in his work was inspired by the psycological effect of seeing his mother die when he was a young. When a young child witnesses the death of someone that close to them, they come to believe that he/she isn't really dead. Hence, the buried not staying buried, and the theme of being buried alive. I would also like information sources on the symbolisms relating to Virginia Clemms death, and TB.

Please respond via e-mail: Aman425@aol.com

Thankyou in advance!

-- Anonymous, March 15, 2002

Answers

Has been noted before. The women who died of tuberculosis in his life with the bloody phlegm image on their lips seems to resonate with the appearance of red wine(Hop Frog, Ms. Usher, Berenice etc.)and general use of the lurid red in his works(Red Death). Fits if not just plain self-evident. Articles on line about this I believe.

-- Anonymous, March 16, 2002