Symbolism in Raven Edgar Allan Poe’s poem
To represent the theme of darkness, Allan sets the poem Raven at midnight in late autumn to show readers the darkness that arose from the intense feelings that he had when his wife Lenore passed. He feels trapped in this world, but all he wants is to be united with his love and soul mate, Lenore, in heaven. His feelings are confirmed when a raven enters the house and stands on Pallas’ bust above the ground. His sense is established when he starts talking to the raven and asks for the raven name. The raven’s response is “Nevermore” in every question asked, making the man angry and states that the raven is an evil thing. The raven represents the darkness he is facing, and it is confirmed when the narrator asks the raven to return to Plutonian shore representing the underworld.
In Addition to this darkness, madness is another theme that is portrayed throughout the poem. As the narrator is experiencing the grief of losing his love, we can see the narrator going to madness as he sits alone in the room (DE GATO 230). When the raven enters the room, the narrator starts talking to the rave showing his madness. The narrator grows angry with the raven when he asks the raven questions, but the only answer he could get was “nevermore’. The narrator sets an ominous mood in the poem through One when the narrator asks the raven to return to Plutonian shore, signifying the midnight hour’s hellish sight. Secondly, the raven symbolizes death and evil, which also portrays the ominous mood in the poem. Finally, Lenore’s death represents the darkness the narrator faces after losing his love and has driven him to insanity as he starts talking to the raven.
References
DE GATO, MARGARIDA VALE. “POE’S “NEVERMORE,” LISBON’S RAVENS, AND THE PORTUGUESE IDEOLOGY OF SAUDADE MARGARIDA VALE DE GATO.” Trans/American, Trans/Oceanic, Trans/location: Issues in International American Studies (2020): 219.