How Does Tragedy Affect Poe's Life

The dictionary states that a tragedy is “an event causing great suffering. Can be caused by a serious accident, crime, or natural catastrophe.”(Google.com) Tragedies permanently affect one's life and is very hard/ impossible to forget. Edgar Allan Poe has experienced many tragedies in his life which is why his literature includes death and murder. Edgar Allan Poe was born on January 19, 1809. His dad abandoned him when he was one. His mom then died when he was 3. Some jobs he had were the army, an editor, and gambling. Being a writer in this time in history was not an occupation that paid well/ at all. Some of his most famous literary works include: The Murders of the Rue Morgue, Masque of the Red Death, and the Raven. Every women Edgar Allan Poe ever got close to died. He also struggled with alcohol and drugs. This is why his literary work includes so much death and murder. In the short story Masque of the Red Death reveals how death can strike at any time. In the movie, Death shows up unexpected and kills everyone at the party. This
In this story, a man is trying to get over the loss of his wife by reading books. Late one night, there is a knocking at his bedroom door. He goes to see who it is and there is nothing. Nothing but darkness.”And so faintly you came tapping, tapping at my chamber door, that I scarce was sure I heard you”—here I opened wide the door;— Darkness there and nothing more.” (Poe, PoetryFoundation.org) So he goes back to reading his book. Yet again he hears a knocking. This time it is coming from outside of his house. When he opens his window, a raven flies in and sits atop his bedroom door. At first the raven doesn't do anything. He then begins talking to this raven and it talks back. The raven, who has come from the devil, says that he will never see his wife again. This makes the man even sadder because he will never see the love of his life