How did Edgar Allan Poe’s time on Sullivan’s Island Impact his writing?

By Mark A Leon

Edgar Allan Poe’s time on Sullivan’s Island significantly influenced his writing, particularly through the inspiration he drew from the island’s environment and his interactions with local figures.

1. Setting for “The Gold-Bug”: Poe’s story “The Gold-Bug” (published 1843) is set on Sullivan’s Island, reflecting his familiarity with the locale.  The island’s isolation and natural beauty provided a vivid backdrop for the tale.

Excerpt:

“To avoid the mortification consequent upon his disasters, he left New Orleans, the city of his forefathers, and took up his residence at Sullivan’s Island, near Charleston, South Carolina. 

This Island is a very singular one. It consists of little else than the sea sand, and is about three miles long. Its breadth at no point exceeds a quarter of a mile. It is separated from the main land by a scarcely perceptible creek, oozing its way through a wilderness of reeds and slime, a favorite resort of the marsh-hen. The vegetation, as might be supposed, is scant, or at least dwarfish. No trees of any magnitude are to be seen. Near the western extremity, where Fort Moultrie stands, and where are some miserable frame buildings, tenanted, during summer, by the fugitives from Charleston dust and fever, may be found, indeed, the bristly palmetto; but the whole island, with the exception of this western point, and a line of hard, white beach on the seacoast, is covered with a dense undergrowth of the sweet myrtle, so much prized by the horticulturists of England. The shrub here often attains the height of fifteen or twenty feet, and forms an almost impenetrable coppice, burthening the air with its fragrance.”

2. Influence of Local Figures: Poe developed relationships with prominent South Carolinians, such as Dr. Edmund Ravenel and Colonel William Drayton. These interactions likely enriched his intellectual and creative life, although concrete evidence of their influence is sparse. 

3. Literary Legacy: Poe’s brief stay has been mythologized by local writers and poets, who have linked his work to the region’s atmosphere and history. This has cemented his legacy in Charleston’s cultural heritage, even if some connections are speculative. 

4. Cryptology Interest: During his time on Sullivan’s Island, Poe’s interest in cryptology grew, which later became a significant element in his works, including “The Gold-Bug”. 

Overall, while Poe’s time on Sullivan’s Island was brief, it left a lasting imprint on his literary output and contributed to his enduring association with the region.

Related Articles 

• History of Edgar Allan Poe on Sullivan’s Island, South Carolina 
• Poe on Sullivan’s Island – Literary Traveler 
• Eating Poe, Part II: Edgar Allan Poe’s time on Sullivan’s Island and … 
• Poe’s Tavern – Sullivan’s Island, South Carolina – Atlas Obscura 
• Visit Edgar Allan Poe’s Lowcountry Haunts – South Carolina 
• The Legend of Edgar Allan Poe and a love in Charleston left unfulfilled – Annabel Lee