Bringer of Bad Luck

Edgar Allan Poe's "Black Cat" (1843) is arguably the author's best short story. It's an illustration of how guilt can nag a person's conscience, even beating himself to it. In the case of this hair-raising tale, the main character ends up nearly insane.

There was no doubt that Poe was inspired from folklore where black cats would be considered bringers of bad luck. Literary aficionados would be reminded of Behemoth, the enormous black cat in "The Master and Margarita" (1967). He had a penchant for chess, pistols, and vodka. He was the least-respected member of Woland's team. Those who could discern the symbols and representations in the novel would figure out what Mikhail Bulgakov meant to convey. In the case of "Black Cat", it was different. It was about Poe's state of mind.

Spooky fellow

It had been more than two hundred years since Poe's birth, and interest in him and his works didn't diminish at all. Poe would appeal to the modern readers, especially those who couldn't get enough of Gothic fiction. It was more of the entertainment value, like a roller-coaster ride. It wasn't the case during the author's lifetime - and even after his death.

Seth Graham-Greene's "Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Killer" featured a sober conversation between Lincoln and Poe. The author dissected Lincoln's larger-than-life persona, of how he ended up as one of the most beloved political figures. Some may be surprised at how the former US president became a lone crusader against evil. But Poe was a scene stealer. He had a spooky persona, which pointed to his background. He warned Lincoln about vampires infiltrating the US Congress (due to vampire hunting in Europe). It seemed like a product of an unhinged mind, which wasn't far from reality.

Poe's final days were spent on the street, wandering. He still haven't got over the death of his wife, whom he immortalized in a poem. It also happened during autumn, where it was getting colder by the day. Maybe Poe was getting more depressed, as winter was fast approaching.

Dark alley

Poe's imagination knew no bounds, but it had to be creepy. Could Poe be the same great writer if his tales were upbeat and optimistic? Maybe not. Unless he grew up in different circumstances, he may not be renowned at all.

"The Masque of the Red Death" was about how the plague came, uninvited, to a revelry that wanted to forget about an illness ravaging the countryside. "The Fall of the House of Usher" exposed a family's dark secrets. "A Descent into the Maelström" was about one trip to the sea that no one would dare. But "Black Cat" would still grab the readers by the throat.

No one knew if Poe had a black cat for a pet. Even his birth date (January 19, 1809) wouldn't reveal anything. Maybe this was a product of his morbid imagination, but who knew.