which I am, I know that. But is the whole concept of this shirt supposed to be the idea that Edgar Allan Poe was buried alive? And if so, why do people think that? I feel like there's this on-going idea of not knowing whether poets are dead or alive. Why why?
Okay, so here is the story. I vaguely remember it but here is goes. Apparently Edgar Allan Poe suffered from a disorder that would slow his heart so much you'd think he was dead. So he rigged his tomb with a way for him to communicate, so if he was buried "alive" by accident they could remove him. Well in the design, the raven has the bell so his way to let them know he isn't really dead has been taken away, hence the strained look on his face. whew.....but don't hold me to it.
It could also contain an allusion to "The Cask of Amontillado"...another story in which a character is, essentially, buried alive (however, in this story, the grave is built around him).
Poe also wrote poems about a bells ( http://poestories.com/read/bells ) and another about a raven( http://poestories.com/read/raven ), so that would also add to the meaning of this shirt.
Mar 14 '08 by
