Isolation and Its Results in Poe's The RavenThe notable characteristic of the speaker in Edgar Allen Poe's "The Raven" is his aloofness. He cuts himself off from the outside world, not because the world itself is terrible, but because of his inner problems. This isolation can bring ugly internal demons to the surface. Complications resulting from isolation can include sadness, fear, despair, anger, madness, self-torture, and feeling trapped. Each of these elements can be seen in “The Raven,” manifested by the speaker of the poem. The opening stanza of “The Raven” introduces the reader to a man isolated in his office on a “dreary” night, reading old books and trying to stay awake. The silent solitude is broken by someone or something “tapping” on the door (lines 1-3). The speaker then explains that he had isolated himself among the books in an attempt to forget the painful pain caused by the recent death of a girl named Lenore. It was December, the darkest month of the year, in the middle of the night. This contributes to the speaker's depression, and his isolation makes it even worse. He may be trying to avoid his misery and self-pity, but he also revels in it by sitting in a lonely office and reading old books one December night. An independent, private study is perfectly acceptable; however, the speaker is not seeking knowledge but rather a “respite from sorrow” (line 10). The cause of his sadness is not isolation, but it greatly contributes to, and even increases, his blue emotions. The surrounding conditions of darkness and loneliness, combined with the loss of his beloved, plunge him into feelings of melancholy. Overall, it is mainly its isolation among these factors...... middle of paper ......nfinally with a complete loss of control. In solitude, the mind wanders freely in its own dangerous and isolated world. Works Cited Hoffman, Daniel. Poe Poe Poe Poe Poe Poe Poe. New York: Doubleday, 1972. Lawrence, D. H. Studies in Classic American Literature. New York: Viking, 1961. McQuade, Donald et al. Harper's American Literature. New York: Harper Collins, 1994. Poe, Edgar Allen. “The Raven.” McQuade, 1688-91.Poe, Edgar Allen. “The poetic principle”. McQuade 1680-85.Poe Edgar Allen. “The Philosophy of Composition”. McQuade 1671-79. Walker, I.M., ed. Edgar Allen Poe: A Critical Legacy. New York: Routledge and Kegan Paul, 1986. Daniel, John Moncure. "Presentation of 'The Raven'." Walker 145-47. Hine, Lucius Alonzo. “Edgar A. Poe.” Walker 246-250. Simms, William Gilmore. untitled. Walker 254-57.