Singularity

One of Poe’s recurring themes in his works is the idea of singularity. Through images of darkness and despair Poe creates a world of misery and mystery. He reflects upon the events of his life through the creation of images of darkness. The idea of singularity that is supported by his sinister and mysterious tone often parallel the isolation that he probably felt as a young man. In reading the head note on Poe it is evident that Poe suffered loneliness due to his poverty, numerous failures, the early death of his mother, the falling out between him and his adopted father, and generally being misunderstood by the public. He characterizes his despair through the old man in “The Man of the Crowd” and through the bird in “The Raven.” Both characters in each short story embody traits of loneliness and solitude which closely parallel the feelings of isolation that Poe experienced through his life. Could it be that Poe is trying to liberate these feelings through his characters, or is he simply trying to re-live that pain through his stories?
The old man in Poe’s first short story attracts his attention out of a crowd of people in the street. The fact that he is singled out alone contributes to his theme of singularity and isolation. His description of the old man’s demeanor is contradicting because while his clothes are “filthy and ragged” the idea of him carrying “both a diamond and…a dagger” implies that he is a more complex character (2489). Poe continues to portray the old man’s demeanor by illustrating how his attitude changes from one of assurance and insistency to one of “old uneasiness” once he is in the presence of all the strangers in the crowd (2491). This uneasiness that Poe describes further supports the idea that this old man only feels comfortable in seclusion. What is ironic is towards the end of the story Poe states that this old man “refuses to be alone” because he is constantly traveling amongst the crowd, yet this could be a simple cover up for his desire to feel apart of the whole. This may seem sort of confusing or even contradicting, but that is the effect that Poe is trying to capture. His combination of the old man in rags that are of beautiful texture is much of a contradiction as the idea that this man is the object of singularity although most of the time he is among a group of people. “The Man in the Crowd” therefore appears to be an attempt by Poe to become a part of a society that does not accept him for who he is while still being able to maintain his individuality.
The recurring theme of singularity can also be traced within the context of Poe’s poem “The Raven.” Poe illustrates scenery filled with desolation and he captures the essence of isolation when he states: “And each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor” (2539). The depiction of each separate ember dying or falling apart creates an image of the stripping down of an individual’s outer appearance down to their soul where they are characterized by a single element. Poe depicts a man who is alone, yet his loneliness is comforted by the presence of a Raven. The Raven repeats one word “Nevermore” again reinforcing the theme of singularity. There is a sort of madness that accompanies the repetition of this word, especially as the climax builds up as Poe continues to ask the Raven questions that he already knows will be answered, “Nevermore.” This madness is another reinforcing factor in emphasizing the idea of singularity. There is a sort of madness that may accompany loneliness, like the need to feel apart of something. “The Raven” therefore illustrates Poe’s persona through the bird and the lunacy he experiences as a result of his loneliness.