Literary Ambitions

This and the following podcast episodes in this series are an alternate or what if history exercises.  The episodes look at what might have happened if Edgar Allan Poe had chosen a different path - if he had decided to become a soldier after his time at West Point, and not one of the greatest of all American writers.  And we invariably go off to discuss other subjects as well such as the rigid schedule at West Point and the influence of military life upon Poe’s writing.

Transcript

Ghost of Edgar Poe - italics text
George - plain text

Welcome to Celebrate Poe - my name is George Bartley, and this is episode 256 - Literary Ambitions

This and the following podcast episodes in this series are an alternate or what if history exercises.  The episodes look at what might have happened if Edgar Allan Poe had chosen a different path - if he had decided to become a soldier after his time at West Point, and not one of the greatest of all American writers.  And we invariably go off to discuss other subjects as well such as the rigid schedule at West Point and the influence of military life upon Poe’s writing.

IHello, Mr. Poe

Greetings, Mr. Bartley.   

Mr. Poe - permit to ask why you choose to attend West Point?

Perhaps it all started when I was a member of the Junior Morgan Riflemen Volunteers who honored General Lafayette in Richmond during his second tour of the United States.   As you know, I seemed to drawn to the military.
So it was only natural that I aspire to attend West Point.  Historically, the school played a crucial role in the American Revolution, which significantly influenced the curriculum and ethos of the Military Academy in its early years.  And that strategic importance of West Point during the Revolution was emphasized in cadet studies. West Point was considered "the most important Post in America" by George Washington, due to its control over the Hudson River.
The curriculum included lessons on the Revolutionary War tactics and strategies employed at West Point, which were crucial in preventing the British from dividing the colonies. The betrayal attempt by Benedict Arnold, who tried to hand West Point over to the British, was likely used as a cautionary tale about the importance of loyalty and honor.
The academy's focus on engineering and mathematics, subjects in which I excelled, was partly influenced by the need for skilled military engineers that became apparent during the Revolutionary War.
And while my time at West Point was brief, the academy's deep connections to the Revolutionary War would have been an integral part of the educational experience and military culture he encountered there.

To continue this thought experiment - Mr. Poe - why did you choose to stay at West Point? I know that you weren't exactly fond of the rigid discipline.

Ah, yes, West Point. A crucible of iron and intellect, where dreams clashed with duty. My younger self chafed at the rules, longed for the freedom of expression, the dance of words in the moonlight. But somewhere between the calculus drills and the musket marches, something shifted.

Could you expound on your thoughts, Mr. Poe?

Certainly, Mr. Bartley.  Perhaps it was the camaraderie, the forged bonds amidst shared hardship. Men from all corners of this fledgling nation, united in service, their stories and dreams woven into the fabric of the Corps. Or possibly I was influenced by the spark of leadership, the thrill of strategy, the dance of formations on the battlefield of the mind.

So, it wasn't just about duty, not just about escaping your past?

Ah, Mr. Bartley - you seem to be hinting at an introspective approach on my part.

Well, you always were very good at communicating your feelings - even if you sometimes hid them under a collection of verbiage.

Ah, that is most perceptive, Mr. Bartley.

I appreciate your observations, Mr. Poe.

I must admit that duty played its part, Mr. Bartley. The echoes of my foster father, John Allan, still resonated within me, his stern teachings about responsibility and service. But beneath that, a seed of purpose bloomed. I saw in West Point not just an escape, but a chance to shape the future, to etch my own name in the annals of a republic that was quite young at the time.

Well Mr. Poe - I want to ask you about your typical daily schedule at West Point.

Ah, Mr. Bartley - I found the schedule to be most intense. And I think the best way to answer that question is to utilize information from the historical records, as well as current practices.  And do not worry the accuracy of basing part of my information on current practices - not surprisingly, West Point is steeped in tradition, and the basic schedules have not changed   Significantly.

You see, the school believes that a cadet's typical day at West Point is highly regimented and structured to balance academic, military, and physical training.

For example

5:00-6:15 AM: Wake up and prepare for the day. Cadets do have some flexibility in their wake-up time as long as they are ready for formation.

Mr. Poe - I have problems getting up before 9:00.

Then you would not be able to withstand West Point, Mr Bartley!  Permit me to continue with the schedule.

Morning
6:55 AM: Breakfast formation.
7:00-7:30 AM: Breakfast in the Mess Hall.
Academic Schedule
7:35-11:45 AM: Classes or study periods. Classes were typically 55 minutes each, with 15-minute breaks in between.
Midday
12:05 PM: Lunch formation.
12:05-12:40 PM: Lunch in the Mess Hall.
12:45-1:40 PM: Commandant/Dean Time, which could include briefings, meetings, or additional study time.
Afternoon
1:50-3:50 PM: More classes or study periods.
4:10-5:45 PM: Intramural, club, or intercollegiate athletics; extracurricular activities; or free time. Physical fitness is a significant part of cadet life, with all cadets required to participate in some form of athletic activity.

Evening
6:30-7:15 PM: Dinner in the Mess Hall (optional except on Thursdays, when it is mandatory).
7:15-7:30 PM: Cadet duties, which could include various responsibilities around the barracks.
7:30-8:30 PM: Study conditions or extracurricular activities.
8:30-11:30 PM: Study time. Cadets are expected to use this time for academic work, though it can also include additional duties or personal time.
Night
11:30 PM: Taps, signaling the end of the day.
12:00 AM: Lights out. Cadets are expected to be in bed and the lights turned off.

I would be exhausted - and then have to start it all again around 6:00 the next morning.

Ah, Mr. Bartley - on Sundays, cadets must attend religious services according to their faith. West Point offers various services to accommodate different religious practices. Attendance at these services is part of the cadet's weekly routine.
This structured schedule ensures that cadets receive a comprehensive education while developing the discipline and physical fitness required of military officers. The balance of academic, physical, and military training is designed to prepare cadets for the demands of military leadership.

Mr. Poe - let’s change the subject.  Just the thought of getting up early bothers me. how would you compare the musings from an inventive pen with instruments of military design?

Mr. Bartley, you almost sound like me.  Why, I delved into tactics, devoured military texts, my mind ablaze with strategies and formations. My pen, once fueled by morbid musings, now traced lines of attack and defense, sketched fortresses of my own design. The thrill of a well-executed maneuver, the precision of a flanking command – it rivaled the satisfaction of a perfectly crafted verse.

Mr. Poe, in our thought experiment you became a soldier,Mr. Poe, not a poet. Yet, do you think the artist within you ever truly faded?

Never, Mr. Bartley. The battlefield became my canvas, the roar of cannons my muse. The courage of men under fire, the tragic beauty of sacrifice – these fueled my imagination in a different way. My mind, honed by military discipline, still spun stories, but they were tales of valor, of brotherhood, of the clash of wills on the bloody field.  And inevitably there were the conflicts that ended in tragedy.

Mr. Bartley, I rose through the ranks, Mr. Bartley, proving my mettle in skirmishes and campaigns. As I advanced in my career, I found that the deserts of the West challenged my resilience, while the swamps of Florida tested my grit. Each scar, each victory, etched a new chapter in my soul, a testament to the soldier within.

And did you find fulfillment in this life, Poe? Were the ghosts of your literary ambitions ever laid to rest?

Perhaps, in the twilight hours, my life would hold a certain melancholic beauty. A poet in uniform, a warrior with a restless soul. I may not have penned verse that shook the literary world, but I helped forge a nation, etched my name in the sands of history, not with ink, but with the sweat and blood of a soldier's life.

Mr. Poe - this is a big what if question - do you think you would have been as self-destructive if you had continued with a military career instead of writing?

Ah, self-destruction, Mr. Bartley, a shadow that dogged my footsteps in both worlds. Whether quill or saber, there was a darkness within me, a restlessness that craved the edge of chaos. It's a difficult question, pondering what might have been, but I'll share my honest reflections.

In the army, the dangers would have been different. The battlefield, a crucible of fire and steel, could have consumed me, offering a morbid release for my demons. Yet, perhaps the structure, the purpose, even the fear, might have kept me on a steadier path. Camaraderie, brotherhood, the shared burden of duty – these could have been anchors, tethering me to the light.

But darkness often finds a way, Mr. Bartley. The isolation of leadership, the weight of command, the lingering memories of battles lost – these could have fueled my despair. Maybe, in the absence of an outlet like writing, the self-destructive tendencies would have found different expressions, drowning my sorrows in spirits or reckless gambles.

Mr. Poe - at the risk of sounding simplistic, sometimes self-destructive tendencies can be a significant problem,  and sometimes a blessing.

Ah, Mr. Bartley - that is rather simplistic.

My self-destructive tendencies, as you call them, were indeed a constant companion throughout my tumultuous life. Had I remained in the military, perhaps they would have manifested differently, but I fear they would have haunted me nonetheless. In truth, these impulses were born from a potent mixture of melancholy, ambition, and an insatiable thirst for the sublime. My pursuit of literary greatness often led me to push boundaries, both in my work and in my personal life. I found myself drawn to the edge of reason, to the precipice of sanity, believing that only there could I capture the true essence of human experience.

Looking back do you feel that you made the right choice - writing over a military life? 

Ah, Mr. Bartley, I know that your intentions are good, but ultimately I was helpless in the matter.  Ultimately I did not choose writing over the military, but writing chose ME.

Mr. Poe - I like that - writing choose me.

Mr. Bartley, As I wrote to Frederick W. Thomas, an esteemed writer, professor, and lecturer on February 14 in 1849, "Literature is the most noble of professions. In fact, it is about the only one fit for a man.”

Mr. Poe - such a statement seems to  highlight your view of writing as a high calling, emphasizing the importance and dignity that you attributed to the literary profession.

PRECISELY, Mr. Bartley, after deciding that my profession was to be that of a writer instead of a soldier, I came to believe in the intrinsic connection between beauty and strangeness in literature. In my short story Ligeia, I wrote, ”There is no exquisite beauty… without some strangeness in the proportion."  I came to believe that the power of words lies in their ability to evoke beauty through the unusual or the uncanny.

Mr. Poe - That explains a great deal about your works.

Ah, Mr. Bartley, I was to develop a broader artistic philosophy, which often embraced the strange, the macabre, and the unconventional in my works. As you know, this idea of beauty being intertwined with strangeness is a recurring theme in many of my stories and poems, contributing to the unique and haunting quality of my writing.

I wonder, Mr. Poe, how the military might have influenced your literary themes and works.

Ah, Mr. Bartley, I would be remiss if I did not mention that my army service did expose me to subjects like cryptography, geography, oceanography, and astronomy. This technical knowledge likely informed some of my writings, especially his science-based stories and essays .
As an expert artilleryman and artificer in the Army, I developed skills in precise measurement, logistical planning, and design. This attention to detail may have translated into the meticulous construction of my literary works.  And my military training, which included subjects like mathematics, navigation, optics, and projectiles, seems to have nurtured even further interest in science. This is reflected in my later journalistic writings on scientific topics of the day - tho I must point out that my first real interest in science was probably a result of nightly using the telescope that John Allan bought for me when my family was in England.
 
And Mr. Bartley, it is certainly conceivable that my time at coastal forts like Fort Moultrie may have influenced my use of isolated, Gothic settings in some my stories.

And finally, the highly regimented military environment, while ultimately not a good fit for me as a creative individual, may have influenced my approach to constructing tightly-plotted stories and poems .

So, Mr. Poe - your experiences of both succeeding in and ultimately rebelling against military discipline could have informed character dynamics in your stories .
Mr. Poe - let’s take an aside here - I am fascinated the fact that you were an artificer.

Yes, Mr. Bartley -

But Mr. Poe, while you were reaching such creative heights as a writer, it seems those bursts of creativity were often accompanied by self destruction - by stimulants that may have destroyed you as a human being.

As a writer, I must admit that I lived a short, troubled life, haunted by loss and fueled by shadows. The soldier's path might have offered a longer journey, but not necessarily an easier one. Perhaps, in the end, the self-destruction was woven into the tapestry of my being, a constant companion regardless of chosen path.

I was to write - "Words have no power to impress the mind without the exquisite horror of their reality." This quote underscores my belief that words must evoke a tangible, emotional response to be truly impactful.
And I often emphasized the poet's role in harnessing the power of words to evoke deep emotions and thoughts. As you know, my works frequently explore themes of beauty, horror, and the sublime, demonstrating hey mastery of language to create powerful literary effects. I strongly believe that my written refections illustrated my deep appreciation for the power of words and me belief in their ability to shape reality, evoke emotions, and convey profound truths, as well as unspeakable horrors.

But there is a glimmer of hope, Mr. Bartley. Even in the darkest trenches of my soul, the flicker of creation never truly died. Even as a soldier, I might have found ways to express it, whether in campfire tales spun under the starlight, or in letters penned with gunpowder-stained fingers. The battlefield itself could have become a muse, its horrors and glories transformed into poems of courage and sacrifice.

Mr. Poe - and again, pardon me if I am being too personal -

Mr. Bartley - my life has become an open book.

Mr. Poe, how do you think your personal struggles has influenced your views on the power of words?

Ah, Mr. Bartley - as you well know, I experienced significant loss and tragedy in my life, including  the deaths of my mother, foster mother, and wife. These experiences may have contributed to my belief in the power of words to convey deep emotions, particularly sadness and beauty. Perhaps this why I so often He often explored themes of death, mourning, and regret in my works.

Would it be fair to say that your experiences gave your works a greater psychological depth?

Ah, Mr. Bartley, my personal struggles with poverty, alcoholism, and possible mental health issues may have deepened my appreciation for the ability of words to explore complex psychological states. This is evident in many of  works that delve into the psyche of troubled narrators.

One only need read the first two paragraphs of The Tell Tale Heart -  TRUE! -- nervous -- very, very dreadfully nervous I had been and am; but why will you say that I am mad? The disease had sharpened my senses -- not destroyed -- not dulled them. Above all was the sense of hearing acute. I heard all things in the heaven and in the earth. I heard many things in hell. How, then, am I mad? Hearken! and observe how healthily -- how calmly I can tell you the whole story.

    It is impossible to say how first the idea entered my brain; but once conceived, it haunted me day and night. Object there was none. Passion there was none. I loved the old man. He had never wronged me. He had never given me insult. For his gold I had no desire. I think it was his eye! yes, it was this! He had the eye of a vulture --a pale blue eye, with a film over it. Whenever it fell upon me, my blood ran cold; and so by degrees -- very gradually --I made up my mind to take the life of the old man, and thus rid myself of the eye forever.

Mr. Poe - I must admit that I am moved by your honesty and articulate observations.  Could you comment on your observations of your role as a - for lack of a better phrase - a soldier poet?

Who knows, Mr. Bartley? Perhaps the soldier-poet would have found a different balance, a way to channel the darkness into something beautiful, something that served not just self-destruction, but the greater good. Maybe the world would have lost a haunted poet, but gained a bard of battle, my voice echoing across the plains and mountains, a testament to the soldier's spirit.

And  by the way, Mr. Bartley - I am inwardly digesting your questions and hope to include my answers throughout these podcasts.

Mr. Poe, While the role of alcohol is on my mind, what influence do you think spirits had on your decisions?

Ah, Mr. Bartley, My fondness for spirits - both ethereal and liquid - certainly exacerbated these tendencies. The bottle became both my muse and my tormentor, offering fleeting moments of inspiration at the cost of my health and reputation. Yet, even in my most sober moments, I felt compelled to dance with danger, to court controversy, to challenge the very fabric of society.  Or perhaps it was the early loss of those dear to me - my mother, my foster mother, my beloved Virginia - that instilled in me a sense of impending doom, a feeling that happiness was always fleeting. This led me to sabotage my own success, to burn bridges with publishers and patrons, even as I yearned for recognition and stability.

Mr. Poe, I guess one of the profound and deepest questions that an individual can ask him or her self is what if.

Mr. Bartley, I quote agree. Ultimately, the "what if" remains a mystery, a whisper in the wind. One thing is certain, though – whether wielding a pen or a sword, the darkness within me would have fought for dominance. But so too, I believe, would have the flicker of light, the spark of creation, seeking an outlet, a way to transmute the shadows into something more.

It's a sobering thought, Mr. Bartley, to consider a life less haunted by words, yet perhaps no less touched by the darkness. But in these hypothetical shadows, I also see a glimmer of a different Poe, a warrior-bard whose voice might have resounded with a different kind of beauty, a testament to the human spirit in the face of both glory and despair.

Now Had I remained in the military, I might have channeled these destructive urges into a more structured environment. The rigors of military life could have provided the discipline I so often lacked. Yet, I fear my rebellious nature would have eventually clashed with the strict hierarchy, leading to a different kind of self-destruction.
In the end, my dear friend, these tendencies were as much a part of me as my raven-black hair or my penchant for the macabre. They fueled my creativity even as they threatened to consume me. And while they may have hastened my demise, they also gave birth to the works that have allowed my spirit to linger in this world long after my mortal form has crumbled to dust.

Thank you, Mr. Poe - on that note, let’s conclude this episode.

Farewell, Mr. Bartley

Ghost sound

Goodbye, Mr. Poe - looks like he wanted to get out of here.

Join Celebrate Poe for episode 257 when the ghost of Edgar Poe and me delve into such topics as some observations regarding life at West Point, the book of poems that Poe put together at West Point, and some of Poe’s disappointments with the school.

Sources include Edgar Allan Poe: A Critical Biography by Arthur Hobson Quinn, The Poe Log: A Documentary Life of Edgar Allan Poe by Dwight R. Thomas and David K. Jackson, the Baltimore Edgar Allan Poe website, and the Complete Works of Edgar Allan Poe.

Thank you for listening to Celebrate Poe.