In this excerpt from Edgar Allan Poe's "The Raven," what does the biblical reference to the healing “balm in Gilead” signify? "P
rophet!" said I, "thing of evil!—prophet still, if bird or devil!— Whether Tempter sent, or whether tempest tossed thee here ashore, Desolate, yet all undaunted, on this desert land enchanted— On this home by Horror haunted—tell me truly, I implore— Is there—is there balm in Gilead?—tell me—tell me, I implore!" Quoth the Raven, "Nevermore." a) the speaker’s desire to cure the raven of its inability to say anything other than “nevermore”
b) the speaker’s desire to cure himself from the pain caused by Lenore’s death
c) the speaker’s desire to bring Lenore back to life
d) the speaker’s desire to cure himself from his mental illness and hallucinations
The biblical reference to the healing "balm in Gilead" in what Poe describes as a "desert land" (which means his home, for Lenore no longer is with him, and she was his reason for living, his "water" if you will, and his home lacks Lenore, like a desert lacks water) signifies a cure for his loneliness. He is asking the raven if there is a chance that he may see Lenore again when he says "is there balm in Gilead?". The speaker is in pain from losing Lenore, and he wants to know if there is a chance he will see her again, a hope that could ease his sorrows. Later in the poem, he says "<span>Tell this soul with sorrow laden if, within the distant Aidenn, it shall clasp a sainted maiden whom the angels name Lenore" which basically means "tell me if Lenore is in heaven, or a paradise of sorts, where she is at peace or I may see her again". </span>So, the answer is "B. The speaker's desire to cure himself from the pain caused by Lenore's death".
