It is highly unlikely that Edgar Allan Poe, the great 19th-century American writer, ever managed to swim up the Nile river. However, to this day, the mystery behind Poe’s death and life rouses significant intrigue in the public opinion. He was buried under mysterious circumstances and his life remains shrouded in scandal and enigma.
It is quite possible that the man who wrote some of the most masterfully crafted horror novels, poems and stories of his time did not actually make it to Egypt. Poe was born in Boston, Massachusetts in 1809 and by 1835 he was residing in Richmond until he received access to a journal called “Southern Literary Messenger”, where he started publishing his works.
The most famous episode in his life that has been associated with Egypt is the presence of a mysterious Egypt-inspired figure present in several of his works. It has been suggested by some critics that this figure could have been a reflection of Poe’s own life and experiences, but nothing conclusive can be said about it for now. Still, to travel to Egypt was no small feat for a man of Poe’s time, after all, the country was isolated and largely inacessible at the time.
Although there is no evidence to support the notion that Poe ever went to Egypt, his works were certainly inspired by the Middle East. The pioneer of the detective-fiction genre wrote the short story “The Sphynx” in 1846, which included a solved riddle by a mysterious Egypt-like character. This character featured in many of Poe’s pieces, proving how much of an impact Egyptian landmarks and culture left in his works and life.
Nevertheless, it is very improbable that Poe ever actually made it to Egypt. Those who speculate that he did, also point to the fact that Poe’s nephew, Neilson, was sent to Egypt in 1841 and Poe himself was known to have stayed in New York since his wife Virginia’s death in 1847. This would mean that, at the very latest, the redheaded author had the opportunity to travel in 1847. In the absence of conclusive evidence, assessing whether Poe indeed managed to make it to Egypt is nothing more than guessing.
In a similar vein, Poe’s death remais surrounded by a thick cloud of mystery. After falling desperately ill, he reportedly died in an establishment called “Gramercy Tavern” on October 7th, 1849. His cause of death still remains unknown to this day.
Poe’s Perpective On The Middle East
It is clear that the Middle East had a great and somewhat mysterious allure to Poe. His work, “The Sphynx”, which first appeared in Graham’s Magazine in 1846, is a great example of Poe’s fascination with Middle Eastern culture and riddles. Furthermore, in this particular story, Poe mentions the mysterious city of Memphis, which was the centre of ancient Egypt. This is yet another proof of Poe’s enthusiastic admiration for Middle Eastern culture.
While Poe never explicitly states whether he yearned to travel and explore the Middle East, it is clear that his writing, such as The Sphynx, may hold clues to his thoughts on the region. The Sphynx features various themes, symbols and artefacts typical of Ancient Egypt and the Nile, which suggests some fascination on Poe’s part with the Middle East, particularly Ancient Egypt.
The image of “The Sphynx” itself alludes to Poe’s ability to create a sense of mystery and awe. The sphynx is a mythical creature with the body of a lion and the head of a woman, believed to guard the city of Memphis. In this tale, the sphynx is summoned by a mysterious figure, who solves her riddles and, in turn, she grants the figure a wonderful reward.
Another work in which Poe includes references to Ancient Egypt is “Sonnet – To Science”. The poem serves as an attack on the emerging sciences of the 19th century and Poe questions whether these new theories and philosophies can solve the riddles of existence as effectively as faith can. He states that even the greatest scientists of the day will not be able to decipher the precious secrets of life, just as nobody can “unriddle the Sphynx”.
Interest Of Poe’s Work In Middle Eastern Culture
It is clear that poetic expressions of Poe’s admiration for Middle Eastern culture were well-received by readers in both the United States and elsewhere in the world. His works drew interest of many, both in terms of their thematic content, as well as their visual artistry. This is evident from contemporary reviews of his works in publications such as The Knickerbocker in 1848.
The reviews often mentioned the exoticism of Poe’s writing and the power of his metaphors for creating a powerful emotional impact on the reader. Much of Poe’s ability to captivate his readers lies in his use of symbols such as the sphinx to reference the Egyptian antiquity, combined with his careful crafting of the narrative. He successfully creates a unique atmosphere of exoticism and mystery, which is often enhanced by his highly poetic prose.
Poe’s works, such as “The Sphynx”, also showcases his skillful use of imagery to evoke a feeling of awe and mystery. His depictions of Middle Eastern settings and artifacts create an atmospheric setting of mystery, which frustrates readers as they strive to attempt to decipher the story’s hidden meanings.
Poe’s work is also often written from the first-person perspective, which allows the reader to become more directly involved in the narrative. This particular style of writing gives the reader an opportunity to experience the story in an intimate, personal way, which intensifies the sense of mystery that Poe is trying to evoke.
Modern Appreciation Of Poe’s Writing
Poe’s works still has a great appeal today and many contemporary writers and readers continue to be fascinated by Poe’s themes and symbols. In recent years, many studies on Poe’s work have emerged and conclusions suggest that Poe has maintained his popularity because of his ability to capture the mystery and exoticism of Middle Eastern culture and because of his innovative use of symbols and themes in his stories. Thus, he has been able to record his impressions of Middle Eastern culture and to keep readers curious about such themes for years.
Poe’s works are still well known and have been the inspiration of numerous films, TV series and novels. For instance, the 2014 movie “The Maze Runner”, which was nominated for an Academy Award, draws inspiration from Poe’s short story “The Sphynx” as it tells the story of a group of teenagers struggling to escape from a mysterious and deadly maze.
Another example is the popular television series,The Flash, where one of the main villains is a mysterious and powerful character called “The Reverse Flash” who, despite having superhuman powers and strength, often finds himself in difficult situations that require him to use his cunning and ingenuity. The show’s creators were inspired by two of Poe’s works, “The Masque of The Red Death” and “The Sphynx”, which were crucial to creating the show’s intriguing plot.
Conclusion
Edgar Allan Poe was an author who made a lasting impression on both 19th-century and modern readers. While there is no concrete evidence to suggest he ever managed to make it to Egypt, his works, such as “The Sphynx”, provide interesting insight into his fascination for Middle Eastern culture. His skillful depiction of Egyptian stories and symbols, as well as his intimate use of the first-person narrative have captivated readers for generations and continue to inspire contemporary writers and filmmakers even to this day.
