As I read Elenore, and then Ligeia, along with several other readings, I have noticed that Poe is really, and I do mean REALLY presenting the death of a lovely woman almost to an extreme. For me, this posed a couple of questions:
1. How much of this is related to Poe's own sadness and despair over the death of his beloved Virginia?
I personally think that many of them, in particular Elenora and Ligeia, which have the main female character wasting away from an illness, is all about Virginia.
2. How does this add to or take away from the Poe that we have all come to associate with his work?
Honestly, I feel it takes away from Poe's work some, because there are only so many variations on the same theme which can be done. Not to say that they are not wonderful stories and full of meaningful things, but unfortunately the public will only take so much of it.
3. How is Ligeia a 'What if?' sort of story, knowing what we know about Poe and his relations with Ms. Whitman? Is it even that?
For me, I think that Ligeia, Elenora, Morella, and a few other of the stories are linked. If we were to put them all together, we can get a picture of Poe's love and feelings for Virginia.
**added later**
In doing a little more background research on Wikipedia (sorry, Dr. Harrison...-_-) another question came into my mind.
4. Are the characters of Berenice, Morella, Ligeia, and Elenora perhaps bits and pieces or even parodies of some of the women in his life? Yes, I know that we have talked about Virginia, but what about Sarah Royster? Sarah Helen Whitman? In consequence, how does this add to or take away from Poe's work as well?
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I don't know if they would be linked with Virginia. I agree with you, though, that it would sort of take something away from the story. The way I think it takes away is because it personalizes it. I think one of my favorite things about Poe's writing is that it's so "out there" in the sense that it's never something I can personally relate to and I like that. I like the idea that you can't understand the actions of the characters because they seem crazy or abnormal, but when we make it about Poe and his love for/loss of Virginia it kind of brings it back to reality which, for me, takes away from the enjoyment of reading it as an abstract story.
Also, the idea of Ligeia as a "what if" story is interesting. Within the story in the most direct way I guess I could see it in that light- what if I had appreciated her more, wanted to know more about her past, wanted to know more about how she seemed to know "everything" I guess I've always just read it with the subcontext of the narrator being tripped out on opium and spending one crazy night in Rowena's tomb (one in which she's been in "for many days").
I wouldn't say that these stories are completely about Virginia. I don't think part of Poe's project was to use these stories about the death of a woman to share his feelings about his love for Virginia and her death. I do agree with Libbie that thinking this way personalizes the story for us. It also kind of brings us to a dead end, just like when we were trying make a clinical diagnosis concerning Berenice. Poe's love for Virginia and her death probably influenced his writing, but not to the extent that it would run completely through his stories.
I agree that the general public would only take so much of Poe's reoccurring themes. But, I think Poe says different things with his writing, despite the fact that it is formulaic. That's one of the things I like about Poe. I think Poe uses each woman's death to say something about the soul/spirit and perception.
Thank you, Laura and Libbie for your comments. I've been given some things to think through. I think that Laura is right about the ideas with Poe and his writing. He says one thing, many new and interesting ways, but for me, in all honesty, it's difficult for me to get past that.
I am considering trying to pick apart and get to the why Poe wrote about the same thing in so many ways for my seminar paper.
I don't think that the stories are necessarily about Virginia either. I think that his writing was effected by her death but not a product of it. It is kind of like events in a persons life are evident in how they act and who they are and in Poe's case how he writes. I do think that it does take away from the stories a little bit. Although each of them are great stories, it is hard to read them back to back like we have to and not get a tiny bit tired of the same type of schemes. However we must not forget that not everyone that reads Poe is going to read all of his stories therefore, we in class might do this, but other readers don't get worn and tired of the same type of story becasue they have not read them all.
I would also like to respond to your question with another question. Why do you think all the women that die in his stories have to die of some fatal illness, or wither away to nothingness rather than drown, or get attacked or some other scenario? I think that would be an interesting way to stir up his story schemes!
That's a great idea, Corinne. I wish I had thought of it. LOL. The illness and the idea of wasting away has to be significant in some way.
I'll be completely honest when I say that I do not think this is an A post.
Having the women die of an illness that gradually affects them adds layers and depth to their character. We see them getting built up by reading how beautiful they are, and then get the description of their demise caused by their disease. They even come back at the end in some shape or form. These layers also allow for thematic developments.
oooooo! Nice answer I had never thought about that Laura! Now that I think of it, I am with you on this one because all of the women seem to change as a character and change the male in the story more than anything too! You make a very good point, especially about the themes.
Kimberly,
I think the answer to your first question is, not much. Poe married in 1836- most of these stories were written between 1838 and 1842- Virginia died in 1846.
I think Virginia's death is more of a case of "life imitating Art" rather than Art imitating life."
Personally, I don’t feel that drawing from ones own experience in literature takes away from any writer. Writing is about experience and imagination; and it’s also very therapeutic. I enjoy reading a story where I can catch a glimpse into the author’s personal life/beliefs, especially when the authors are long dead and it is our only means of examination. I mean come on, were all English majors! How interesting would our Poe seminar be if we couldn’t analyze Poe personally through his works?
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