Student Question

What are some symbols in "The Demon Lover"? What is the main conflict?

Quick answer:

In "The Demon Lover," key symbols include the sea, representing escapism and the desire for freedom, and the demonic figure, embodying temptation and the idea of deception with a hidden flaw. The main conflict involves a woman torn between her domestic life and the allure of a mysterious, possibly supernatural lover. This reflects the tension between duty and desire, with the demonic lover symbolizing the ultimate escape from societal constraints.

Expert Answers

An illustration of the letter 'A' in a speech bubbles

Do you mean the poem? If so, note that the conflict concerns a woman who is tempted to forsake husband and child, hearth and home, to run away with a man she is infatuated with.

It was a common folk belief of the time that Satan could never disguise himself completely but had to reveal some body part portraying him for who he really was. (Kind of a "rule" in the game of deception.) Thus, he is often shown with horn, a hoof, a tail or something unnatural. That way the temptation was at least "fair play."

Note that running away to sea is a universal symbol in itself of escapism or the desire for emancipation. It also symbolises the desire for new experiences and absolute freedom.

In 1945 Elizabeth Bowen had a short story published inspired by this medieval poem. Check out the site below for symbolism in this work and the correlation between it and the original poem. Note that this is a source where not all information is verifiable since its information is contributed by the general public.

Get Ahead with eNotes

Start your 48-hour free trial to access everything you need to rise to the top of the class. Enjoy expert answers and study guides ad-free and take your learning to the next level.

Get 48 Hours Free Access
Approved by eNotes Editorial