The Man Who Was Poe

Avi uses social status as a characterization tool for many characters. Though he does not disclose what Edmund’s family’s social status was in London, his mother lost all her money to Rachett, Pru can only afford a sparse room in Providence, and Edmund is perceived to be a dirty, begging boy. The assumptions the tailor and Catherine make about him are humiliating; they judge his character unfairly based purely on his outward appearance. 

Dupin/Poe is first described as a homeless and impoverished writer. He is so desperate for money that he considers sleeping in the church, but agrees to help Edmund in exchange for a place to sleep. He spends the little money he has on alcohol, and his addiction costs him a good reputation in the eyes of Mrs. Powers and Helen. Mrs. Powers believes Poe to be “an irresponsible drunkard with not a shred of decency” (70), which complicates the reverence many hold for Poe as a respected writer. Helen is infatuated with Poe and even considers him to be “a genius” and “the most passionate [and] romantic of men” (64). Nevertheless, she weighs this against the risk of scandal and harm to her upper-class reputation.