There are a few reasons why 1846 was a tragic year for Poe. First, his wife Virginia died of tuberculosis. This was a huge blow to Poe, as she was his muse and inspiration. Second, Poe's drinking problem worsened and he became increasingly erratic and unreliable. This led to him losing his job at the Southern Literary Messenger. Third, Poe's health began to decline and he started to experience seizures. Finally, Poe's mother-in-law died, which further upset him. All of these factors combined made 1846 a very difficult year for Poe.