As the American population grew exponentially during the 19th century, rural-urban migration became increasingly popular. As more and more people called the city their “home,” a Pandora's box of problems was born. Everything from overcrowded housing to unsanitary living conditions plagued cities with new diseases during this period. To warn people about these problems, authors such as Washington Irving, Walt Whitman, and Edgar Allen Poe helped make Americans more aware of moving to the city. In Poe's “City by the Sea” he both explicitly and implicitly characterizes modern cities. This poem shows how even fictional cities like this seaside town are dealing with the everyday problems of city life. Poe's “City by the Sea” warns the audience of the city's immorality by describing Death as a regal ruler who reverses the role of normal religious symbols. Poe shows how Death rules the city as if he were a king. The first line highlights the wickedness of the plot and the darkness of the setting by saying, “Behold! Death is enthroned in a foreign city that lies alone” (1.1). Poe could have used any other word for “throne” (1.1), but by using this word to describe the hierarchy of Death within the city, Poe can manipulate the audience into believing that Death actually rules the city as if it were a king. By giving death, which is an abstract idea, human qualities, he shows that anything can rule the city. Like a good king, Death keeps an eye on everything that happens in the city. Poe's medieval description of the city reminds the audience of cities ruled by kings. Poe describes the city as having "domes... spires... royal halls... fanes... walls like Babylon" (1:17-18). Poe'......middle of paper......lost cause since God can't even reduce the sin that is happening in the cities. He does this to warn the public of the enormous amount of evil that breeds in cities that not even God can defeat. Poe uses seemingly universal religious themes to describe how death wins in the never-ending struggle between good and evil. Through this poem, Poe effectively warns his audience of the obstacles of living in the city. Poe's dark description of the city shows how cities are becoming more and more immoral. With God's favor now removed from the cities and with hell rising to suppress city life, Poe foresees a dark omen upon all city dwellers. Poe shows how Death officially rules the city as if he were a king sitting on the throne. Finally, Poe's sinister description of the city warns people before they finally make the mistake of moving to a city.