What is the cause for Poe's emphisis on death in his novels and poems?

-- Anonymous, March 18, 2002

Answers

A common preoccupation of the era. Try Tennyson's "In Memoriam" before you accuse Poe of being the champion. Personally he had been orphaned, lost his foster mother and inspirational woman friend, lost his older brother, his young wife and had health problems of his own that seemd to keep him on mrtality's edge. Death was the place of refinding his losses of the futrue of his Hope, but it was a vast problem because it was little comfort, rather an endless burden on him. His religious faith did not help him completely and he seemed reticent to talk about his own losses directly suggesting some lack of grief resolution dating back to childhood? That's a guess.

Also see how many of his heros beat death by their wits. the fascination with the standing on the gulf or abyss shows Poe's chosen place on this topic and his existential honesty at least.

-- Anonymous, March 19, 2002