Interpreting Edgar Allan Poe's Stories Through SymbolismMorbid, ill, and psychotic are all words many use to describe the late writer Edgar Allan Poe. His images of ghosts and maniacs have given readers chills over the years. While many believe that Edgar Allan Poe was nothing more than a deranged horror writer, a closer look at some of his macabre tales such as "The Raven", "The Fall of the House of Usher" and “The Heart That Tells the Story” shows Poe’s literary brilliance through the use of symbolism. His ability to create deeper meanings in his stories led many to consider Poe the most influential writer of the 19th century. An analysis of Poe's use of symbolism truly reveals his genius for creating excitement and forcing the reader to form a deeper perception of his tales. The first example of Poe's use of symbolism to show deeper meaning and create excitement is found in the short story, "The Raven. Throughout the short story, Poe presents the symbolism of the conscious mind and subconscious. Abel Abu-Melhim states: "The Raven seems to symbolize loneliness, sadness and the feeling of going crazy associated with a feeling of uncertainty even with regard to oneself" (115). story, the narrator describes a dreary December midnight Poe uses this to describe the physical setting and show the reader the current darkness of the main character's mind Poe also uses the phrase "And each dying ember created its ghost on. the ground” (688) This line shows how the narrator slowly falls into a deeper depression, his mind slowly fading away The main symbol in this short story is the majestic raven The darkness of the raven is used to symbolize death. , which will always haunt the narrator. The raven flies within a... middle of paper ... assailed the monarch's highlands” (Poe 708). Poe gives us the symbol as a reference to Madeline's funeral robes and what is to come. Ultimately, Poe uses the phrase "The radiance was that of the full moon, setting and blood-red" to symbolize the bloodshed and death of the Usher family (714). Throughout the story, Poe's use of symbolism gives the reader a deeper insight into the Usher family. Although some argue that Poe is a second-rate depressed writer, Poe has the ability to deliver his dark stories while giving the reader a deeper understanding of his characters. This ability helped make Poe one of the most talented American authors. It is important to truly examine the stories of Edgar Allan Poe by knowing his symbolic style. With this in mind, one can understand the true meaning of Poe's tales and develop a new perspective on their own favorite stories..