Edgar Allan Poe is known as a major figure in literature and gothic poems and stories. He is one of the most consequential writers with a dark and miserable life. He was born on January 19, 1809, and most of his writing was reflected in his own reality of life. He was one of the first writers to try to make a professional living as an author. Edgar Allan Poe’s past life mirrors themes such as Loneliness and Grief, which is reflected in his poem, “The Raven”.
Loneliness plays a big part in “The Raven” and Poe’s life. In “The Raven”, it states, “Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary, Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore— While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping, As of someone gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door. “’ Tis some visitor,” I muttered, “tapping at my chamber door—” (Poe 1). This quote supports my theme simply because the weather is cold and gloomy, and it’s a winter day in December. He refers to that day as a “Bleak December” showing the lack of life and happiness after he lost his love, Lenore. In Poe’s life, loneliness was a big factor, “Poe was very isolated as a child because of his parent’s deaths. The death of his parents was a major influence and impact on the way Poe writes. This is seen in the poem “The Raven” because of the tone and the many symbols that refer back to Poe’s sad life. While Poe led a rough and troubled life because of his childhood isolation, he expressed his feelings on the subject in some of the greatest works of art in history.” (The Edgar Allan Poe Story Of Isolation 16) In his childhood years, he showed loneliness just like how the main characters showed boredom and abandonment after his love died just like his parents. Edgar Allan Poe had so many depressing moments in his life with so many deaths and loneliness.
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Grief plays such a big role in “The Raven” and in his real life. “Prophet!” said I, “thing of evil!—prophet still, if bird or devil! By that Heaven that bends above us—by that God we both adore—
Tell this soul with sorrow laden if, within the distant Aidenn, It shall clasp a sainted maiden whom the angel's name Lenore— Clasp a rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore.” (Poe 16) In the passage, you can tell he still misses Lenore and still has pain from losing someone he loves. He believes that the Raven came as a messenger for the dead. The raven is a never-ending reminder that Lenore died. The Raven represents his grief for Lenore. In Poe’s life, he went through many deaths which led to his grief. “His later life included surviving the early death, at age 24, of his beloved wife Virginia.” (Potempa 3) Additionally, he lost his parents at a very young age right after his dad abandoned his mother. It is said that “Edgar and Virginia were married in 1836. She was only 13 years old and he was 27 years old. In 1842, Virginia became sick with tuberculosis. She died of the disease on January 30, 1847, at the age of 24.” (Virginia Clemm Poe 2) His parents and wife dying is what started his grief at a young age. He was only six when his parents died and twenty-seven when his wife died. Poe had a very hard life but reflected that in many different stories and poems.
Edgar Allan Poe’s had a depressing life filled with loneliness and grief reflects in his poems and short stories. Losing his parents and the love of his life at a young age was brought onto his very popular poems and short stories like “The Raven” showing the loneliness and the grief of losing Lenore in the book. Sadly, Edgar Allan Poe was only forty when he died. Some theories of how he died included grief and suicide which plays a big part in his health and mental issues since he was young. He will always be remembered as one of the most influential writers of the 19th century.
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