Analysis of "The Self-Deconstrustion of 'The Raven'" by Person

In the eyes of Leland Person, Edgar Allan Poe has an approach to his writing unlike the majority of all others. Person discusses Poe's philosophy, or lack there of, not only in "The Raven," but in many other works by Poe such as "The Philosophy of Composition." He brings up some interesting topics, but Person's main point is that Poe writes in such an almost broad and open way that the reader must derive their own philosophy about what is truly happening in the story (Person). To me, this raises the problem of people reading too far into literature. However, Person believes that this was the whole point of the writing style of Edgar Allan Poe.

According to Person and Poe, the word spoken by the raven itself, "Nevermore," is left for not only the character to decide on its meaning, but it is the reader's decision as well. Person also goes on to say that the word "Nevermore" and the raven really have no meaning, but they are simply the basis for which the main character and the reader to build their own story around (Person). When first reading this poem, I did in fact draw my own conclusions and my own background story. However, when discussing it with my peers, I discovered that they had interpreted it in an entirely different way. At first, I was slightly perplexed about how there could be so many complex interpretations about such a seemingly simple story. Now, after reading the ideals of Person, I am enlightened unto the writing style of Poe, and I realize that this was his whole purpose of the poem; to let the reader create their own philosophy and story. Therefore, I certainly do agree with the statement made by Person that the word "Nevermore" really has no meaning in the context of the story, but Poe left it for the reader to give meaning to (Person).

To elaborate on the point made by Person of the reader "controlling" the story, I agree with it, but on the other hand I think it is absurd. Person draws the conclusion that Poe writes with such a style in the poem "The Raven" that while the main character is trying to understand what is really happening, so must the reader (Person). I do agree with this fact for the most part due to the fact that there are multiple ways of interpreting literature, but I do not agree with the point that it leads to. That is reading to heavily into a piece of literature and seeking information that is not meant to be there or drawing wild conclusions that should never appear from the subject matter of the story. Person briefly mentions this topic in his criticism by suggesting that some of Poe's works are just "harmless hoaxes" (Person). However, Person does not express his beliefs in this area. I agree with Person in that the ambiguity of the poem itself is in essence the poem in which Poe intended; and furthermore, Poe's overall idea of writing is to let the reader's philosophy reign supreme over the actual events of the story.

Works Cited

Person, Leland S., Jr. "Poe's Composition of Philosophy: Reading and Writing 'The Raven,'" Arizona Quarterly 46, no. 3 (Autumn 1990): pp. 1-2, 8, 12. Quoted as "The Self-Deconstruction of 'The Raven'" in Harold Bloom, ed. Edgar Allan Poe, Bloom's Major Poets. Philadelphia: Chelsea House Publishing, 1999. (Updated 2007.) Bloom's Literary Reference Online. Facts On File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?ItemID=WE54&SID=5&iPin= BMPEAP25&SingleRecord=True (accessed November 22, 2010).