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Symbolism In Edgar Allen Poe's Annabel Lee

Decent Essays

“Annabel Lee” by Edgar Allen Poe is a combination of both interpretation, eternal love and the narrators decent into madness as is shown through the symbolism used. The person that Annabel Lee is based on is unknown, however, many women from Poe’s have claimed the title. Poe at this time in his life has recently lost his love Virginia Clem to disease. At the same time Poe is living in poverty.
In “Annabel Lee” Poe tells a story of young love. In stanza 2 Poe writes “But we loved with a love that was more than love I and my Annabel Lee a love that the winged seraphs of Heaven Coveted her and me” (9-12). The seraphs coveting them shows how deeply in love with each other. So much so that the angels would long to have what they do. In the words of Dawn B. Sova “The relationship as innocent is further emphasized in these lines, as the writer repeats the words love and loved and places the relationship above merely earthly affection by suggesting that "the winged seraphs" envy the lovers' feelings for each other.” (D.S). Dawn says the symbols of the seraphs drives home the theory of eternal love. …show more content…

This is cased by the death of his lover as is explained in lines 13 through 16. “And this was the reason that, long ago, In this kingdom by the sea, A wind blew out of a cloud, chilling My beautiful Annabel Lee” (13-16). This death is what started the narrators spiral into madness. His look on life changes along with an increased sense of paranoia. He continues in lines 21-23 to proclaim the jealousy “ The angels, not half so happy in Heaven, Went envying her and me Yes! that was the reason” ( 21-23). He has decided that the angels just couldn’t stand their love so they were the ones to blame for the loss of his dear Annabel

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