Mysteries of Edgar Allan Poe - 'Providence' the film

Providence tells the story of Sarah Helen Whitman's bizarre relationship with "Poe's first real biographer," John Ingram, whose utterly unscrupulous methods ended up destroying the lives of at least two of the 'Poe Women,' Sarah Helen Whitman and Annie Richmond. Ingram "wooed" the elderly 'Helen' into finally relinquishing her most precious possessions, her love letters from Poe. Without her knowledge or permission, Ingram had the letters photographed, and had them featured as an 'exclusive' in an American newspaper. The elderly Helen, who had adored and trusted Ingram, was destroyed by Ingram's betrayal and the shocking revelation that her sacred letters from Poe were now available to anyone who could read. 'Poe's Helen' died of grief very soon afterwards.

Helen's relationship with the obsessive Ingram is shown in parallel development to the development of her relationship with Poe; the plots finally intertwine when Poe breaks Helen's heart, and possibly, she his, by breaking off their engagement permanently in 1848. Certainly, Poe's life spun entirely out of control after his affair with Helen…and he was dead in less than a year. She continued to write about him and mourn for her lost love for the remaining 30 years of her life, until John Ingram came along and robbed her of her final dignity.

Providence gives us the best look yet at the very ambiguous figure of Sarah Helen Whitman, and poses many questions about Poe's intentions towards her, hers towards him and ultimately, shows that no matter what really broke up her relationship with Poe, nothing ever succeeded in killing her love for him. But… John Ingram succeeded in winning her heart, breaking her heart and finally, taking her life by his betrayal. Ingram's sole motivation was his conviction that anything that enhanced "Poe's Biography" needed to be printed, no matter what grief he caused these elderly women whom he sabotaged and essentially destroyed. But in truth, Ingram was simply trying to gain himself tremendous prestige and the title, "The Father of Poe Biography." If Ingram had waited a few years these Poe Women would have been dead, and the publication of their personal letters would clearly have been in far better taste at that point. Surely, Poe's biography would have survived without such a terrible denouement for Poe's beloved Helen.