Alone by Edgar Allan Poe Poetry Analysis

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Poetry Response #7: Alone by Edgar Allan Poe Every human being blossoms from childhood into an elaborate and intricately woven character. Whether you are from Europe or Africa, a girl or a boy, poor or rich; from the moment you are introduced into the world, your experiences and memories are weaving a unique individual. However, our society is built upon morals that valourize ideals that encourage conformity as a mean of relating to others and establishing relationships. In the poem “Alone” by Edgar Allan Poe, a celebrated poet whose writing is often regarded as dark and somber, Poe explores the depths of society’s impact on those who are believed to be different and, therefore, treated as such. He brings to light the inconvenience of his oddities as an ostracized child and emphasizes the effect of his surroundings on the development of his personality. The poem’s gloomy tone conveys the author’s desired message. He describes how during the years of his childhood he wasn’t like the others, he didn’t have the same outlook on life and, finally, his passions differed from those of his peers—he could not relate, nor could he conform—, thus leaving him feeling disconnected. Describing his behaviour as a child, he concludes that “all [he] lov’d—[he] lov’d alone”; this further insinuates the melancholy brought forth upon his solemn look back on his past. As many experience themselves, being shunned for one’s differences can take quite the toll on the psyche — humans are social beings that require the formation connections to other humans to thrive; the moment one is deprived of such social attention, they begin to shrink into themselves and lose their ability to shine outwards. However, in a shift, Poe begins discussing how his growth from childhood has drawn both good and bad from the days in “a most stormy life”. The poet implies that his lifetime, despite being ridden
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