The Cask of the Figurehead by Barbara

The Cask of the Figurehead by Barbara - February 2016 Scholarship Essay

Imagine: you're sitting in a dark room, eating for a stranger. You've never met the man; you've only heard stories of his... interesting ways. No one really knows what's up with him, only that he writes very brutal stories and poems. You look to the corner and there he is: Edgar Allan Poe.
At least, that's how I'd imagine it would go. Either that or you'd end up dead. Edgar Allan Poe was a rather fascinating man who has made quite an impact on the world. Nearly every student in the world knows "The Raven". Why is that? Because Poe knew how to create suspense like no other. He could keep you up for weeks thinking about the cat buried in the wall or the body under the floorboards. The scariest thing about Poe is: many people believe that some of his works were based off of true events.
The true reason behind choosing Edgar Allan Pie is not horror, however. Poe was more than just his stories. He was a husband (to his cousin), he was an orphan, he was a poor, unfortunate soul. So, my true reason for wanting Poe? A sense of understanding. He had a terrible, yet invigorating life and I wish to fully understand that.