The Raven: Edgar Allan Poe and Charles Dickens

Have you ever pondered whether Edgar Allan Poe's infamous poem The Raven was inspired by a real-life raven, or even a pet raven that belonged to one of his contemporaries? This article delves into the possible connection between Poe's famous raven and the habitual pet raven owned by Charles Dickens, whose letters and novels offer insights into his fascination with these remarkable creatures.

Charles Dickens and the Raven: A Natural Fascination

One literary figure who frequently indulged in the company of ravens was Charles Dickens. His book Barnaby Rudge, published in 1840, features a prominent raven by the name of Grip. Dickens portrayed Grip as a symbol of mystery and sorrow, capturing the attention and heart of his readers. The raven's presence in the text is not merely a decorative element but a complex narrative device that conveys deeper meanings and emotions within the novel.

Interestingly, Dickens was known for his keen interest in the behavior of ravens. He often shared his observations and interactions with these intelligent and commanding creatures with close friends. The natural curiosity and admiration Dickens had for ravens paralleled their symbolic importance in literature, highlighting their ability to captivate and enchant literary figures of his time.

Edgar Allan Poe's Unusual Fascination

Edgar Allan Poe, renowned for his dark and eerie poetry and prose, was deeply fascinated by the unique and mysterious qualities of ravens. His famous poem, The Raven, written in 1845, is a testament to Poe's lifelong interest in these birds. The poem captures the symbolic essence of loss, loneliness, and the interplay of light and shadow in its dark and poetic narrative. Poe's fascination with the raven is evident in his other works, such as The Fall of the House of Usher and The Murders in the Rue Morgue (often credited as the first modern detective story).

Metaphorically, Poe’s raven often represents the mystery and enigma that haunts his characters and readers. The bird's presence in his literature serves as a vehicle for exploring deeper psychological and existential themes. The raven, with its piercing eyes and ominous presence, becomes a symbol of uncanny wisdom and an elusive connection to the supernatural.

The Correspondence Between Dickens and Poe

Despite the vast cultural and geographic distance between them, Poe and Dickens had a mutual respect and likely shared thoughts on literary themes and interests. The existence of only three known letters between the two confirms their sporadic interaction but does not diminish the significance of their influence on each other.

It is plausible that Poe was familiar with Dickens's representation of the raven in Barnaby Rudge and perhaps even inspired by it. While the exact extent of their raven-themed exchanges remains speculative, the shared fascination with these birds provides a intriguing backdrop for this iconic correspondent pair.

Both writers explored the raven as a potent symbol in their respective works, intertwining it with themes of mortality, the supernatural, and the human condition. The consistent portrayal of ravens in their writings reveals a multilayered journey through imagination, symbolism, and the uncanny.

Conclusion

The raven, with its iconic and mysterious presence in literature, serves as a powerful symbol for both Edgar Allan Poe and Charles Dickens. While there is no definitive proof of Edgar Poe's raven being inspired by a particular raven of Dickens, this literary association adds another layer of intrigue to their work. The raven's enigmatic symbolism in The Raven and its role in Dickens's Barnaby Rudge illustrate the universal allure of these visionary creatures in the annals of literary history.