Summary And Symbolism In The Handmaid's Tale

The speaker’s downfall begins when he decides the raven is evil, however, The climax comes in stanza fifteen when the speaker asks if he will be reunited in heaven with Lenore. He asks, “tell me truly, I implore—Is there—is there balm in Gilead?—tell me—tell me, I implore!"(Poe 89). When the speaker asks “is there balm in Gilead he is making a biblical reference. Balm was an expensive and rare medicine that was in high demand. It was imperative for many people's wellbeing. The Bible reader “I am black; astonishment hath taken hold on me. Is there no balm in Gilead; is there no physician there,” (Jeremiah 8:22). By the speaker quoting this specific verse, he is asking if there is any hope for alleviation from his pain, and the inevitable answer …show more content…
Symbols are the most important techniques used in this Poem. The symbols create a deeper meaning to the words in the poem. Without proper analysis, these symbols may be glossed over and the meaning behind them left unrevealed. The Princeton Handbook of Poetic Terms defines a symbol as follows, “The new romantic conception of symbolism is where there is a central symbol, usually named in the title, with great variance of suggestive implications.” (Peminger 7). The Raven is the most prominent central symbol in this poem. Death, evil, and the fear of the unknown are all portrayed by the raven. An example of the raven representing death and evil is conveyed through the following metaphor, “ To the fowl whose fiery eyes burned into my bosom's core,”(Poe 75). This quote uses metaphor in order to explain the evil the speaker sees the raven as. Poe personifies the raven as the devil sent to answer the questions of the speaker, or so the speaker thinks. However, these questions the speaker desperately needed answers to were only to be answered with “Nevermore”. The speaker believes that the raven is telling a prophecy, and holds the Raven's answer to be true. When the raven only answers nevermore to his hopeful questions, he is left discouraged and broken. The speaker was desperate to know what happens after death, will he see Lenore again, and is there any hope. These are all questions many wonder and fear, yet they are to never be answered. Allusion is another stylistic element added. An allusion is explained stating that, “it relies on resources from outside the poem,” (Perminger 229). Pluto is an allusion used in the raven. He is not a character, but a mythological god that exists outside of just the poem. By referring to Pluto, the god of the underworld, another element of darkness is applied to the raven. The speaker tells him to return to the