The Theme of The Raven free essay sample

The Raven by Edgar Allen Poe has a hidden theme in the poem. The story is about a melancholic man who was visited by a raven called Nevermore. When the man heard the raven knocking on his door, he was nervous and anxious. However, he could not overcome his curiosity and opened the door. When the raven came in, the man started asking questions to it. The same answer of the raven to the mans several questions about his beloved was hardly acceptable for him. Nevertheless, the man was forced to take the assertion made by the raven. The plot of the story helps ncover its theme sooner or later, reality is going to come to people no matter whether they are ready or not. This message is gradually revealed as the story advances. The mans actions and mood at the beginning of the story imply that he lived in his own world without facing the sad, ugly truth that he would never meet Lenore again. We will write a custom essay sample on The Theme of The Raven or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page When he was in his room, he stated that he was weak and weary. This describes his deteriorating physical as well as mental conditions. Also, it indicates that in the bleak December, he was not able to protect himself from the approaching raven that was going to shatter the wall defending the mans fragile eart. The man also said while I nodded, nearly napping. This shows that the man was unaware of the coming of the truth; therefore, he was so relaxed that he was nearly napping. This part of the story helps reveal the theme by showing a person not being ready to protect himself from any approaching threats outside his territory. The tapping on the door stirred up the mans anxiety and curiosity to the world filled with sad memories of his yore. He started to feel restless after the knocking. For instance, after he heard the noise, he said it filled him with fantastic terrors that he never felt before. This indicates that the noise made by the raven augmented both his interest and fear toward reality. Also, the quote, deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing, implies the fact that the man had gained the courage to open the door and longed to know what was there awaiting him. In the darkness, either by his own imagination or the echo of his own voice, the raven repeated the name of the mans lover, Lenore, outside the door. The mans desire to get this message about Lenore grew even stronger. The audience can understand his feeling when he said all my soul within me burning, after returning to his room. This knocking of the door and the mans reactions in the poem helps present the theme by representing the coming of the truth and a person not having a clear sense of what is happening. The mans reactions to the ravens responses to his inquiry show that the man was not ready to accept the disappointing truth. For example, when the man asked the raven to quaff this kind nepenthe and forget this lost Lenore, and the raven answered with Nevermore, it shows that the man would never be able to forget Lenore. The man grew emotional and called the raven thing of evil. This explains that even though the ravens response was the cruel reality, it was not the reply the man wanted to hear about. When he enquired of the raven if ne would meet Lenore in heaven, the raven also replied wit n the word, Nevermore, which means that he would not meet Lenore ever again. The man was exceedingly depressed and furious and told the raven to leave. This again shows that he considered the truth unacceptable. However, at the end, when the man said And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor shall be lifted nevermore, the man was forced to acknowledge the truth. The separation of his soul and body mplies that although a large part of his self does not want to face the truth, his soul, not having any hope, had sunk into the darkness. He used all his physical strength to keep a distance from the hopelessness; however, his mind that escaped from the strength and was overruled by the extreme bewilderment and sadness had dropped into the darkness of despair. This part of the story completed uncovering the theme by showing no matter if people are ready or not, the reality will come. The theme of the story, reality is going to come regardless of peoples preparation to its arrival, is fluently revealed by the plot. At the first part of the story, the mans casual demeanor indicates that the man did not notice what was approaching him. At the middle part, his panic and curiosity toward the mysterious visitor behind his door denote that he did not even notice the coming of the truth. Near the end, the mans emotional responses to the ravens answer tell the readers that the man was not ready for the arrival of the truth. At the last part, it shows that the man accepted the truth against his will. By this order, the theme is wholly and smoothly presented. The crucial element that allows the theme to be conveyed is the raven of truth, Nevermore.