Character sketch of the narrator from the raven

Character Sketch of the Narrator from “The Raven” “The Raven,” written in 1845 by Edgar Allan Poe, is one of the most famous - or infamous - poems in the history of American literature. Its plot involves a man who has recently lost someone dear to him. Presumably, this is was his wife or significant other. In the poem, the narrator hears noises and eventually is greeted by a raven who can only speak the word “nevermore.” From the contents of this poem, one can infer that the narrator possesses various traits, such as emotional weakness, intelligence, and romanticism (referring to his passion and love, rather than the artistic movement). The narrator is very weak; it is evident he cannot deal with the death of someone he once knew and loved. From the beginning of the story, he begins referencing a woman named Lenore, who was someone he obviously loved dearly. He makes it clear that she has died by using phrases like “the lost Lenore” (Poe 10). He says that she is “nameless here forevermore” (12), meaning he will never say her name again, but this promise is broken very soon after; that was the first thing he said after opening his door following his hearing tapping noises. Also, later in the story, he begins to turn to drugs when he cannot forget her: “Quaff! Oh, quaff this kind nepenthe and forget this lost Lenore!” (83). These are examples that show his emotional weakness in the poem. Despite his emotional weakness, the narrator appears to be intelligent. In the first few lines of the story, we meet the narrator as he is reading a book. This displays interest in literature, which is a quality reflecting his intelligence. Also, he quickly recognizes that the raven can only say the word “nevermore,” and uses this to his own benefit. He asks the bird questions like, “Is there balm in Gilead?” (89), meaning, “is there hope for me to have Lenore back?” He knows that the bird will respond, “Nevermore,” but he asks this question to satisfy his own need for another