Edgar Allan Poe What Does The Raven Symbolize

What Does The Raven Symbolize?

Being alone on a late, dark, dreary night, the last thing you would want is an unexpected and uninvited visitor. In the poem by Edgar Allan Poe, titled “The Raven,” a man is surprised when he finds a raven in his home that only says the word “nevermore”. Since the man lost his lover, Lenore, he is filled with grief and sorrow. Consequently, he is deeply depressed and mentally ill. The raven in this poem symbolizes his imaginations turning into reality and taking over his life, making him insane. To begin with, the narrator is depriving himself of sleep, even though he is exhausted. This may be due to the fact that he’s lonely and is waiting for Lenore to visit him, even though she is dead. The narrator is

He uses this excuse to convince himself that he is not crazy, but he is still very lonely. The Raven is created by his imagination to keep him company and help keep his mind off of Lenore. The Raven is described as “royal” looking, and perches on top of bust of Athena above his door, making himself right at home. “Open here I flung the shutter, when, with many a flirt and flutter, in there stepped a stately Raven of the saintly days of yore; not the least obeisance made he; not a minute stopped or stayed he; but, with mien of lord or lady, perched above my chamber door- perched upon a bust of Pallas just above my chamber door- perched and sat, and nothing more” (331). At first, the narrator is a little confused, but the fact that the Raven looked like he knew what he was doing makes the narrator believe he is very wise and can maybe help him with his situation, causing him to cheer up a little bit. The narrator is very amused by the Raven, he even starts to smile. “Then this ebony bird beguiling my sad fancy into smiling” (331). The narrator then starts to talk to the Raven. He starts by trying to get his attention with a story, then asks for the Raven’s name. However, the Raven replies with “nevermore.” “By the grave and stern decorum of the countenance it wore, “Though thy crest be shorn and shaven, thou,” I said, “art sure no craven, ghastly grim and ancient Raven

He begins by telling the Raven that his previous life and owner must've been so miserable that he only learned how to say the word “nevermore.” “Caught from some unhappy master whom unmerciful disaster followed fast and followed faster till his songs one burden bore- till the dirges of his hope that melancholy burden bore of ‘never- nevermore” (333). Again the raven replies with “nevermore,” but this time, the narrator becomes fascinated by the bird once again, and decides to take a seat in front of him. “But the Raven still beguiling my sad fancy into smiling, straight and I wheeled a cushioned seat in front of bird, and bust and door,” (333). As the narrator is sitting down, he looks across from him and sees Lenore’s chair. He then comes to the realization that Lenore isn’t with him and she will never sit in her chair again. This makes the narrator once again turn into his grieving mood. “But whose velvet-violet lining with the lamp-light gloating o’er, she shall pass, ah, nevermore!” (333). Then, things start to get worse, the narrator begins to smell perfume, which reminds him of Lenore. “Then, methought, the air grew denser, perfumed from an unseen censer swung by seraphim whose foot-falls tinkled on the tufted floor,” (333). He starts acting crazy, calling himself names such as “wretch.” He tells himself to drink the nepenthe and