To My Mother

Fiction | Poem | Adult | Published in 1849

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Summary

Background

Poem Analysis

Themes

Symbols & Motifs

Literary Devices

Symbols & Motifs

Death

The motif of death is prominent in Lines 7-9, where Death is personified in reference to the speaker’s wife. The speaker’s mother’s death is also mentioned in stark language: “My mother—my own mother, who died early” (Line 9). The intertwining of the deaths of both the speaker’s wife and the speaker’s mother suggests the speaker’s deep loneliness and grief over the loss of these two women. It also shows why the speaker values the mother-in-law so much: She is the last nurturing figure in his life, and the speaker is eternally grateful to her despite his sadness over the loss of Virginia and his mother.

Angels

The poem begins with images of the afterlife in the heavenly motif and ends with imagery of the life of the soul via references to both Virginia’s “spirit” (Line 8) and the speaker’s “soul-life” (Line 14); this suggests that the soul survives after the body has died and that life triumphs over death. By referring to angels in the second line, Poe suggests the purity of his love for his mother-in-law. The symbolism of angels is not only of protection and divinity but also of an innocent and boundless love that exceeds what is possible on earth. Poe shows that his mother-in-law is an angel in his life by comparing her to these heavenly beings and showing that mothers are blessings from the heavens.

The Meaning of Love

The poem suggests that love is about self-sacrifice and selflessness as opposed to gratification or desire. This is revealed both through how the speaker depicts his mother-in-law and his love for her, as well as how the speaker discusses his love for Virginia. The speaker’s love for his deceased wife is couched in terms of his own willingness to annihilate his own soul out of love for her: She is “dearer” to his “soul” than his own soul’s existence (Line 14). His love for Virginia comes from a place of deep mourning, yet Poe also expresses gratitude for the time he shared with his wife. He wishes to continue honoring this all-surpassing love by showing admiration and respect for her mother.