Edgar Allan Poe's poem, "The Raven," is an exploration of grief and loss. One of the debates surrounding the poem is whether the raven that visits the speaker is a physical creature or a figment of his imagination. This essay aims to argue that the raven is, in fact, imaginary. By reviewing different elements of the poem such as setting, mood, imagery, symbolism, and the speaker's word choice, we can uncover compelling evidence that supports this interpretation.
The poem, "The Raven," takes place in a dimly lit chamber on a "midnight dreary." This setting establishes a gloomy atmosphere, amplifying the speaker's sadness. It is in this mood that the raven appears, reinforcing the opinion that it may exist solely in the speaker's mind. The quote “Ghastly grim and ancient Raven wandering from the Nightly shore — Tell me what thy
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Raven’s can not speak, thus adding to evidence that the raven is imaginary. Poe writes suggestive imagery throughout the poem to emphasize the otherworldly nature of the raven. For example, the speaker describes the raven's eyes in this quote “On the pallid bust of Pallas just above my chamber door; And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon’s that is dreaming…” of those like a demon evoking a sense of otherworldliness. Furthermore, the raven's shadow, which looms over the speaker, is described as "dying ember," hinting at its ghostly quality. These descriptions add to the argument that the raven is a symbol of the speaker's mind rather than a physical creature. The raven serves as a powerful symbol throughout the poem, representing various concepts such as grief, mourning, and the inevitability of death. It embodies the speaker's inability to move on from his lost love, Lenore, and the perpetual reminder of his grief. The raven repeating the word "nevermore" reinforces the speaker's sense of hopelessness and sad nature of his sorrow. This symbolism suggests that the raven is not real, but rather