The Remarkable Ambivalence of "The Raven"

Anger, Grief, Loneliness, and Fear build the perfect recipe for this widely known lament.

In the days I went to school, the bus ride home would often be hard to tolerate. Some would say utterly adorable animals or utterly giant animals would be worthwhile to watch. Nonetheless, a particular bird, a common one, incessantly reminded me of Edgar Allan Poe’s classic - sometimes, his poem is billed as the best ever. And that all but begs the question of what the magic and and style behind our most recognized poem is, and the story of the poet behind it.

Long Story Short

Edgar Allan Poe was born in Boston in 1809. He excelled academically at the University of Virginia, although his father had estranged him since his freshman year because of his heavy gambling debts. Poe joined the army and wrote poems and books soon after which attracted little attention. Due to his lack of financial support, Poe resided in his aunt's house and married his cousin Virginia Poe, who was only 13 then.

Although there was not much evidence of their relationship, it is thought that they were a platonic couple and saw each other as brother and sister. So when Virginia Poe developed tuberculosis in 1942, it would be expected that Edgar Poe experienced much emotional devastation. When her condition worsened, one of Poe's most well-known poems, The Raven, was published. Coincidence? I don't think so. In his stanzas, Poe repeatedly refers to his lost Lenore, and the Raven perched on his chamber door continuously repeats nevermore, as if Edgar Allan Poe is sharing his burden of Virginia's inevitable death.

The way I think of it, this outburst of emotion (Along with his alcoholism) sparked his inspiration to write his feelings down as a type of journaling, a standard counter to depression. And it must be amazing when you write about an experience like that.

The Writing

At first sight, the poem paints a picture of fear when a rapping and tapping is heard at his chamber door, informing the reader of the sense of horror. When Poe finds that nobody is at the chamber door, it could be inferred that he is hallucinating, and that doubt is proven when, in the fifth stanza, he writes,

 And the only word there spoken was the whispered word, "Lenore?"

This I whispered, and an echo murmured back the word, "Lenore!"

almost as if he wished Lenore was at the door.

After he hears the so-called tapping, he retreats into his state of fear until the 'stately' Raven perches above his chamber door. He remarks on its nicely trimmed crest before asking him provocative questions. The Raven replies with the word 'Nevermore.'

Soon, this raven-talking madness turns into a powerful, angry message to the Raven in which Poe supposedly blames the Raven to have clasp a sainted maiden whom the angels name Lenore. Soon, when Poe grows languid of Raven's remark, he tries to shoo the bird away: Leave my loneliness unbroken!—quit the bust above my door!

Take thy beak from out my heart, and take thy form from off my door!"

(Personally, this was my favorite excerpt in the poem.)

Ultimately, when the Raven decides to stay, Poe finally succumbs to the thought that his Lenore is lost forever.

The Theme

It would be hard to discern a single theme in "The Raven," albeit the poem heavily explores the bounds of mortality. When a life is lost, no matter how 'rare and radiant' the soul may be, it does not matter in death's or the Raven's inexorable clasp.

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Disclaimer: Remember, this is just my opinion and what I think of a piece after gathering research and writing it down.

Thanks for reading The Literature Linguist!

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