"Spirits of the Dead" for example, Poe appears to bemoan the idea that in life. He believes that only the most delicate bond holds the soul to earthly existence and that the nature of that existence is one of isolation. Therefore, the greatest intimacy possible, while living, is the physical intimacy from love of the heart. In death, the barrier is overcome and the soul is freed from this earthly isolation. Then, and only then can the supreme intimacy be fulfilled with the loved; one, soul to soul, for eternity. As Poe clearly spelled out in his poem "Annabel Lee"... "And neither the angels in Heaven aboveNor the demons down under the sea,Can ever dissever my soul from the soulOf the beautiful Annabel Lee"This theme carries through to some of his other poems as well. Although the poem “Dream Within a Dream” has many different interpretations, it can be said to fit this idea. The first eleven lines open the poem and allude to thoughts of departure or change from what is, to what he wishes it to be. Here, he refers to the transition of the state of slumber to the conscious waking state. He speaks of his life thus far as if it had been a dream. Poe questions himself as well as the reader when he asks if dreams will ever be fulfilled. He wonders if all our hopes are merely a fantasy to be seen or enjoyed only in our dreams. It is a wish that is to remain unfulfilled except in our imaginative unconscious state where reality places no limitations or boundaries upon our hopes. In the last thirteen lines he refers to the conscious state or reality. The first two lines suggest that he has reached a point in his turbulent life, perhaps a turning point and one that he has envisioned in his hope filled dreams. He speaks of all the things in his life of any substance or significance, things that he values most above all else. He goes on to speak of his inability to achieve happiness and of the inevitable loss of his most ...
