Edgar A. Poe: the original emo

 Emo, goth, misunderstood, and gloomy aren't just words to describe an teenager full of inner-angst, like Allyson Reynolds from the Breakfast Club or JoJo the animated character for the Dr. Seuss film "Horton Hears a Who." 

Nope, emo, goth, misunderstood, gloomy, maybe just a little bit crazy are also words to describe a famed poet and author who can adequately be deemed the creator of the misunderstood cult following.

The originator of inner angst.

If you would please stop and reflect on what you know about the man, the legend, Edgar Allan Poe. 

We already know some of the basics about Poe:

1) Poe was born on January 5, 1809, in Boston, Massachusetts and died in Baltimore, Maryland on October 7, 1849.

2) He married his thirteen (That's right, you read it correctly: 13) year old cousin when he was twenty-seven (27).

3) He had a slight, kinda big obsession with the human psych. Meaning, how does a supposedly rational human being on the outside become such a grotesque villain?

4) He wrote some of the best prose novels and short stories, but, quite literally, was underpaid for them. Take "The Raven," for instance, Poe only got paid $9 for the manuscript.

5) His critically acclaimed works are often dark and gruesome. He wasn't a huge "happily ever after" fan.

Here are some things you may not know about Poe:

Edgar Allan Poe's mustache was a late edition.

1) His wife's sudden illness and equally sudden death at a young age is the reason he wrote in such a dark voice. Who can blame him?

2) Did you know Poe went to West Point? Yup, he did. He was also top in his class at the University of Virginia even though he frequently attended class drunk.
3) Also, y'know that big mustache he has? He didn't have that until the last few years of his life. Funny, somehow an unshaven Poe just doesn't seem like the ideal writer for the "Tell Tale Heart."

3) Poe's death is as mysterious as some of his novels. What historians know for sure is Poe left Richmond, Virginia, for Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on Sept. 27, 1849. He was found "in great distress" in Baltimore on Oct. 3 and passed away in Baltimore Hospital on Oct. 7. For a long time (and after several myths came about), fans and critics alike believed Poe had died due to alcoholism. The University of Maryland Medical Center, however, believe Poe may have died from rabies.

 Click here to find out more.

The "Poe Toaster" notoriously left gifts in honor of Poe.

Poe, then, has enough "quirks" to make him "cool" enough to be followed by a legion of fans. These fans have proven to be loyal to him even after his death. The renown "Poe Toaster" is a perfect example. Every year, on Poe's birthday, from 1949 until 2010, a single, heavily hooded man would visit Poe's grave early in the morning. He would silently leave behind a half empty bottle of cognac and 3 red roses. The man who dropped off the gifts at Poe's grave has yet to be identified and has, supposedly, passed away after missing 3 consecutive birthdays in the past few years. I have listed two separate articles for you to read further about the mysterious Poe Toaster. Please go here  or here.

A true Edgar Allan Poe signature.

Another quirk that made Poe cool enough to be followed? Poe's signature has started a whole lot of copy cat signatures. The best way to be sure you're looking at the original star's signature is to be sure it is signed "Edgar A. Poe." Poe was notorious for the rocky relationship he and his stepfather shared, so, he dropped the new middle name after severing ties with his stepfather. If a signature is signed Edgar Allan Poe, you may need to double check your sources. 

Finally, you know you've made it big in the 21st century when, a full century and a half later, you have managed to create and maintain your own twitter page. Poe's twitter page has, in turn, spurred a renewed interest in his works and in quirks. He's inspired bands and, perhaps, most importantly, a movie will be released later this year entitled The Raven, starring John Cusack. The movie will follow a Baltimore detective as he attempts to track down a murderer inspired by Poe's works.  

The E! True Hollywood Story: Ralph Waldo Emerson

Adrien Brody

PBS has called him the  "Sage of Concord" and YouTube has created several dozen audio clips of his readings. Ralph Waldo Emerson, if you look at him purely based upon today's media, is quite literally a celebrity of his time. 

Emerson was a guy with charisma and a whole lot of talent. He was kinda like George Clooney- only with Adrien Brody's nose.
Actually, comparing Emerson to Clooney is a little unfair. Emerson speaks of his philanthropic efforts as duties, or dues, that he is required to pay because of his public image. Clooney, on the other hand, really does want to help people. The fact that Adrien Brody and Emerson have the same nose is still something that cannot be denied.

In Self-Reliance, Emerson addresses society's limitations and the "necessary" daily activities of life as two key components that force an individual to take the great leap forward in becoming individuals of worth that could, y'know, actually help society become something bigger and better than what it was before.

Based upon his writings in Self-Reliance, it sounds like in today's world he would only be a really great motivational speaker for the college circuit. It turns out, though, that Emerson knew a thing or two about public speaking AND knew a thing or two about self-reliance.

First, after losing his wife and returning to America after a two year hiatus in England, Emerson began a sort of tour, or circuit, as a lecturer.

Second, Emerson was forced to bear the burden of losing his first wife, his mother, two brothers, aunt and dealing with other personal tragedies like the loss of his home after a devastating fire.

When you look at his background, you can see why Emerson voiced some of his concerns the way he did. In "Self-Reliance," Emerson stresses that individuals, young and old, cannot rely strictly on the church, culture, society, or the arts to bring them forward as mature adults. Emerson argues each sect fears the originality or creativity because it's different.

Really, it's not that different from today's time.

Today, people have to look like Nicki Minaj or Lady Gaga to get attention, but most of society deems those two as too extreme.

Today's society demands a balance between old and new. An understanding to learn from past mistakes that will, in turn, lead to success.
An understanding that personal achievement should be marked by one's own standards and not by the terms of others.
An understanding that a man or woman should stand by his or her personal decisions.
An understanding that although books or (certain) television programs can offer a person knowledge, it is up to that person to take that information and blend it into a thought that can be used in his or her daily life.

Emerson isn't just speaking to his society. He's speaking to every society. He's telling people, like you and me, to stand up, stand proud, and adhere to the values you find most important. Finally, once a person has learned to value his own self-worth, then, and only then, will he become a true asset to society.

That's why Emerson is a true motivational speaker. He's telling people throughout that years, "Baby, you were born this way."