Edgar Allan Poe Love And Grief Essay

Edgar Allan Poe’s Exploration of Love and Grief Death is a sensitive and rather serious subject that most people cannot look past the devastation long enough to perceive beauty in. It is common for a writer to explore the dark aspects of death and the process of grieving, but less familiar is the love and undying adoration that has to be present in order for someone to experience loss. A love that transcends death, in the sense that the absence of a loved one can alter a life in such a substantial way, truly demonstrates the power of human connection and love. This can be seen throughout Edgar Allan Poe’s work, including poems such as “The Raven” and “Annabel Lee,” as he explores the beauty that accompanies both love and grief. Firstly, it’s

(Canning). That puts “Annabel Lee” into perspective a little more. The poem begins with a strong affirmation of this couple’s love, “she lived with no other thought / Than to love and be loved by me.” (5-6). This emphasizes the true and carefree nature of their relationship. “I was a child and she was a child, / In this kingdom by the sea, / But we loved with a love that was more than love—” (7-9). There is an emphasis on how pure and free they were with their love. It was untainted by corruption from the horrors of reality. It was a love so powerful, “that the winged seraphs of Heaven / Coveted her and me.” (11-2). He uses this line as some sense of reasoning as to why his Annabel Lee was taken from him. He wants to have someone to blame. As religion tells us that when virtuous people pass on, they go to Heaven; he took this a step further and wondered how they could ever take his love away from him. So he assumes that “the angels, not half so happy in Heaven, / Went envying her and me—” (21-2). He believed that they must have envied the love that they shared to want to take something so sacred from him. Despite losing his precious Annabel Lee, he knew their

However, when one is able to see the lengths that people are willing to go to for love, it becomes a little clearer. Death is tragic. It’s gut wrenching, and it causes so much heartache and pain. Though it’s true that the pain seems unbearable, it’s necessary to accept that the love you shared with someone who is now gone, will always remain in your heart. Even though it can hurt in unimaginable ways, it’s a fantastic thing. It’s unreasonable to think that just because someone is gone that we can’t still cherish the happiness and love that we experienced while in their presence. Death is not all one thing. No matter how the media portrays it. It has its dark side, but it also has a lighter side: the memories you shared that will never fade, and the urge to hug your family just a little tighter. It urges us to cherish what we have, and it implores us to remember our loss not just in sadness, but in happiness as well. That is what Edgar Allan Poe, who experienced much loss throughout his life, strived to communicate with his