Pushing The Boundaries

Welcome to Celebrate. Poe. Episode 374 - PUSHING THE BOUNDARIES where the ghost of Edgar Allan Poe and myself continue our discussion of how the writer surpassed the boundaries of Gothic literature

We begin this episode by continuing our discussion on how the theater might've affected your writings.

Mr. Poe: Ah, Mr. Bartley, Now the dramatic storytelling inherent in theater from parents and youth may have also contributed to my affinity for Gothic literature. My works often featured dark, mysterious settings and explored themes such as death, decay, and the supernatural.

Furthermore, the artistic environment surrounding my parents’ careers could have nurtured my early interest in poetry and literature. Despite the hardships I faced after their deaths, my foundation may have laid the groundwork for my later literary achievements.

Thank you for experiencing Celebrate Poe.

Transcript

Welcome to Celebrate. Poe. Episode 374 - PUSHING THE BOUNDARIES where the ghost of Edgar Allan Poe and myself continue our discussion of how the writer surpassed the boundaries of Gothic literature

We begin this episode by continuing our discussion on how the theater might've affected your writings.

Ah, Mr. Bartley, Now the dramatic storytelling inherent in theater from parents and youth may have also contributed to my affinity for Gothic literature. My works often featured dark, mysterious settings and explored themes such as death, decay, and the supernatural.

Furthermore, the artistic environment surrounding my parents’ careers could have nurtured my early interest in poetry and literature. Despite the hardships I faced after their deaths, my foundation may have laid the groundwork for my later literary achievements.

Please continue, Mr. Poe -

Ah, Mr. Bartley - while portions of my life were certainly marked by tragedy, my upbringing among traveling actors imbued me with a deep appreciation for drama, emotion, and storytelling. I believe that these influences shaped my distinctive style as a master of Gothic literature and psychological horror. Mr. Bartley, I was exposed early to the transient and unstable world of theater from an early age. This likely contributed to my deep understanding of dramatic expression, emotional intensity, and the human psyche, which became hallmarks of my literary style.

The transient lifestyle of my parents' profession may have fostered a sense of rootlessness in me. Some say this is reflected in my lifelong search for belonging and the pervasive sense of alienation in my writing. My characters often grapple with isolation or existential dread, mirroring my own feelings of being disconnected from a stable family or home.

I never thought of it exactly that way, Mr. Poe. - that is until recently.

And yes, Mr. Bartley - Another major influence on my writing style and themes was my education in Europe.
You see, when I lived with my family in England for that 5 year period, my education and early experiences in Europe had a notable impact on my writing style and thematic focus. I attended several prestigious schools, including the Manor House School in Stoke Newington. These formative years exposed me to classical education and European literary traditions, which left a lasting impression on my later works.

Mr. Poe - do you believe the subject matter you studied affected your writings?

Mr. Bartley - how could it NOT affect my future writings.  You see, my European schooling included studies in Latin and French, which enriched my linguistic skills and literary exposure. And my classical training is evident in the structured and meticulous nature of my prose and poetry, as well as my use of many allusions to classical mythology and literature.

The architecture and atmosphere of England, particularly during my time at Stoke Newington, likely influenced my affinity for Gothic settings. The dark, mysterious environments that I experienced during this period resonated in the eerie backdrops of stories such as The Fall of the House of Usher and William Wilson.

And my emphasis on creating a singular emotional impact in my works may reflect the precision and discipline that I encountered in European literary traditions. My essay "The Philosophy of Composition" underscores my approach, emphasizing calculated structure to evoke specific emotions.
While much of my focus on death stems from personal tragedies (e.g., losing loved ones), the Romantic literature that I encountered during my education in Europe deepened my exploration of these themes - such as Annabel Lee and The Raven. European Gothic literature also introduced me to themes of the supernatural and macabre, which became central to my storytelling. My tales often delve into psychological horror and otherworldly phenomena.

To utilize just one example, the 19th-century had a significant amount of anxieties about premature burial - a fear that I expressed in such stories such as The Fall of the House of Usher and The Premature Burial - a fear that serves as both a literal horror element and a metaphor for existential dread.

In The Premature Burial, I wrote - To be buried while alive is, beyond question, the most terrific of these extremes which has ever fallen to the lot of mere mortality. That it has frequently, very frequently, so fallen will scarcely be denied by those who think. The boundaries which divide Life from Death are at best shadowy and vague. Who shall say where the one ends, and where the other begins? We know that there are diseases in which occur total cessations of all the apparent functions of vitality, and yet in which these cessations are merely suspensions, properly so called. They are only temporary pauses in the incomprehensible mechanism.

Quite chilling, Mr. Poe. But Mr. Poe - did these cultural influences stop when you became an adult?  As I understand it, you were certainly no longer in Europe.

Mr. Bartley, far from it.  While it is true that my time in Europe was limited to childhood, its cultural influence persisted throughout my career. My works bridged American Romanticism with European Gothic traditions, making me a unique figure in transatlantic literature. Later, European writers after such as Charles Baudelaire admired my originality and translated my works extensively, further cementing my legacy within European literary circles.

But Mr. Poe - Baudelaire lived after your earthly demise!

Ah, Mr. Bartley - you forget that I am a ghost!  Perhaps you have not had enough sleep.

Yes, Mr Poe - I think you are right.  But let me ask you about your European education in general.

Ah, Mr. Bartley - My European education provided me with a foundation in classical literature, Gothic aesthetics, and disciplined composition techniques that profoundly shaped my distinctive style and thematic preoccupations.

Mr. Poe - would you address your time at the University of Virginia?

Ah, Mr. Bartley - my time at the University of Virginia, though brief, had a notable influence on my thinking and future works.. My experiences at the university shaped my early creative endeavors and provided themes and inspirations that would appear in my later works.

Now originally, I was to enrolled at the University of Virginia to study classical and modern languages. I must admit that I excelled academically, particularly in Latin and French, and demonstrated a strong aptitude for literature and linguistics. While there, I immersed myself in the university's library, reading widely in history and English poetry, which likely influenced my later writing style. My experiences at the university directly inspired some of my later works, such as “A Tale of the Ragged Mountains.”

However, my time at UVA was marred by financial difficulties. My foster father, John Allan, provided insufficient funds for tuition and living expenses, forcing me to turn to gambling to cover my debts. My actions led to significant financial trouble—I ultimately had to leave the university after less than a year. These struggles not only strained my relationship with Allan but also marked the beginning of a recurring theme of financial instability throughout my life. Constant instability influenced both my personal life and my literary career, simply because I often wrote under financial stress worrying how I was going to earn an income.

Despite my financial troubles, I was well-liked by many of my peers and was known for entertaining them with the tales that I devised. My room on the West Range became a popular gathering spot for fellow students. These interactions may have helped me hone my storytelling skills, which became central to my later success as a writer.

Ah, Mr. Poe - I understand that you were a member of the Jefferson Literary Debating Society at the University of Virginia.  What role did the Jefferson Literary and Debating Society play in your life?

Ah, Mr. Bartley - you DO do your homework - I am seldom asked about the Debating Society but it DID play a notable role in my life during my brief time at the University of Virginia. The society was a exceedingly prestigious student organization that provided a platform for intellectual debate, literary presentations, and oratory practice. I was fortunate to join the society and even served as its Secretary pro tempore.

Mr. Poe - could you tell us more about your involvement?

Ah, Mr. Bartley - you do tend to ask rather stimulating and even obscure questions.  You see, my involvement included delivering an essay on "Heat and Cold" and likely participating in debates and discussions, which aligned with the society's mission to refine ideas through intellectual exchange.  And although my time at the university was short due to financial difficulties, my engagement with the Jefferson Society offered me numerous opportunities to develop my rhetorical and literary skills. In fact, my experiences may have contributed to my later achievements as a writer and critic.

Mr. Poe, so did you frequently present original works to the society?

Oh no, Mr. Bartley - but while I did not frequently present original works - as you put it - to the society, I often entertained friends with private readings of my writings, showcasing my literary talent even at such a relatively early stage.

Interesting, Mr. Poe - so what would you say was the most significant contribution that the Jefferson Literary and Debating Society provided regarding your literary development?

Overall, the Jefferson Literary and Debating Society provided me with a supportive intellectual community during my formative years. Despite my departure from the university after less than a year, my association remains a significant aspect of my legacy at the University of Virginia.

Interesting, Mr. Poe - how exactly did your membership in the Jefferson Literary and Debating Society influence your future writing style?

Ah, Mr. Bartley - my membership in the Jefferson Literary and Debating Society played a most formative role in my early development as a writer and thinker, influencing my literary style and intellectual pursuits.

Mr. Poe - could you elaborate?

Certainly, Mr. Bartley - The society, one of the oldest collegiate debating societies in North America, was dedicated to fostering debate, oratory, and literary refinement among its members.

Mr. Poe - I understand that you had private readings - I hope that best describes it - in your room.

Yes, Mr. Bartley, and while I did not frequently present original work to the literary society, I often entertained friends with private readings of my poetry and stories. My engagement with literature during that period included composing poems like those in Tamerlane and Other Poems, which I published shortly after leaving the university. The society's encouragement of literary expression may have reinforced my commitment to a literary career.  These readings, often shared with my closest friends, allowed me to refine my skills in oratory and storytelling. While I did not present original work regularly in formal settings such as the Jefferson Literary and Debating Society, these private sessions provided a space for me to experiment with my ideas and entertain an audience, fostering my confidence and creative expression.

Mr. Poe - do you feel that your time at the University of Virginia helped you develop your writing skills in general?

A most interesting subject, Mr. Bartley - My literary theory, as outlined in essays like "The Philosophy of Composition," stresses achieving a single, unified effect in each work—a principle that reflects the disciplined thinking fostered by my work at the University of Virginia and especially, the Jefferson Society. Also, the society's vibrant intellectual atmosphere mirrored the ideals of Mr. Thomas Jefferson's vision for the university as a place to nurture critical thinking and creativity.

Mr. Poe, how would you compare your time at the University of Virginia with your future writings?

Ah, Mr. Bartley, my time at the University of Virginia contrasts sharply with my later life in terms of circumstances, achievements, and personal struggles.  As you know, I studied Ancient and Modern Languages.  And I must admit that I excelled academically, particularly in Latin and French, and was noted for my - if I may be so bold - my intellectual promise. Despite my academic success, my time at the university was marred by financial difficulties. My foster father, John Allan, provided insufficient funds to cover tuition and living expenses, forcing. me to resort to gambling to pay my debts. Unfortunately I accumulated debts of approximately $2,000 (a substantial amount at the time), which Allan refused to settle. As a result, I had to leave UVA after less than a year without completing my studies. And although my time at UVA was short-lived, it played a significant role in shaping my literary ambitions.

Mr. Poe - how did those private readings influence your writing style?

Ah, Mr. Bartley - my private readings likely reinforced my belief in the importance of achieving a singular, unified emotional impact in my works.
It was my contention that every element of a story or poem should contribute to a pre-established effect, ensuring that no word or detail was extraneous.

Did you read the reviews of other writers?

Ah yes, Mr. Bartley - I believe that my engagement with other writers' works through critical reviews honed my analytical skills and shaped my stylistic precision. My critiques often dissected literary techniques such as meter, rhyme, and plot construction, reflecting my own commitment to meticulous craftsmanship. In other words, I learned to treat composition as a deliberate process akin to solving a mathematical problem.

Interesting, Mr. Poe - would you care to address whether you read other literary traditions - and if you did - what did you learn from them?

Ah, Mr. Bartley, my exposure to various literary traditions during private readings enriched my ability to explore complex psychological states and symbolic narratives. My works often delve into themes of madness, obsession, and the supernatural, using first-person narration to immerse readers in the disturbed psyches of my characters.

Did your readings intersect - I hope that is the right word - with your personal life.

Ah, Mr. Bartley - most definitely - the works I read also intersected with my personal life, marked by tragedy and loss. These experiences informed the melancholic tone and themes of longing and despair that pervade much of my work. I

Mr. Poe - those are most insightful observations.

Ah yes, Mr. Bartley - I firmly believed that my private readings not only increased my literary knowledge but also sharpened my focus on crafting works with precise emotional resonance, psychological depth, and symbolic complexity. It is my contention that a meticulous approach to writing—rooted in both personal introspection and critical engagement with literature— was necessary for the enduring impact of my stories and poems.

Mr. Poe - let me slightly change the subject.  It is a fact that some of your earliest (as well as latest) writings were rather gruesome - why did you choose to write works that much of your audiences might find distasteful.

Ah, Mr. Bartley, my choice to write gruesome and macabre works, which many of my contemporaries found distasteful, can be attributed to a combination of personal, cultural, and literary factors.

First, my life was marked by profound tragedy and instability, which deeply influenced my writing. Orphaned at a young age and later suffering the loss of my wife Virginia to tuberculosis, I experienced intense grief and alienation. These personal tragedies shaped my preoccupation with death, decay, and the darker aspects of human existence. My works often explore themes of loss, madness, and mortality, reflecting my own struggles with despair and the fragility of life.

Mr. Poe, I hope this is not too painful for you.

Ah Mr. Bartley - such thoughts are frequently a part of my thinking. One must realize that I lived during a time when Gothic literature was popular, but I must admit that I pushed its boundaries by delving into the psychological and grotesque. I was part of the Dark Romanticism movement, which contrasted with the idealism of traditional Romanticism by focusing on human fallibility, sin, and self-destruction. I was fascinated with the duality of human nature—the conflict between rationality and darker impulses. Moreover, I recognized that sensational and macabre stories were commercially successful. My editor initially feared that such grim tales would alienate readers, but such literary works instead garnered significant attention, helping me establish my reputation. Such a basically pragmatic approach to writing for an audience hungry for dark themes also played a role in my choices.

I know that you were interested in exploring the human psyche.  Could that have played a part in your choice of subject?

Ah, yes, Mr. Bartley - I was most deeply interested in exploring the human psyche. My stories often feature unreliable narrators who descend into madness or are consumed by obsession, as seen in "The Tell-Tale Heart" and "The Black Cat." By focusing on psychological terror rather than overt supernatural elements, I wanted to redefin horror as a genre that probes the mind's darkest corners. I also categorized my works into "Arabesque" (psychological terror) and "Grotesque" (physical horror), demonstrating my deliberate effort to examine different facets of fear.

I am familiar with the title of a collection of your short stories called Tales of the Arabesque and Grotesque - but I never knew before that in this context -  the title refers to tales of psychological terror and tales of physical horror.

Well, now you know, Mr. Bartley.

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 Complete Works of Edgar Allan Poe by Edgar Allan Poe, A Mystery of Mysteries: Evermore by Harry Lee Poe, and the online site of the Edgar Allan Poe Society of Baltimore. 

Thank you for listening to celebrate Poe

Join Celebrate Poe for episode 375 - Tormented - yes - we are all the way up to episode 375.