The theme of grief in "The Raven" is central to the poem's exploration of loss and despair. The speaker, mourning the death of his beloved Lenore, is consumed by sorrow. The raven's repeated utterance of "nevermore" serves as a constant reminder of the permanence of his loss, driving him deeper into madness. This relentless repetition underscores the futility of seeking solace and the inevitability of a bleak future, reflecting the narrator's growing anguish and acceptance of his tragic fate.

At the poem's outset, the narrator's melancholic state is evident. He describes the night as "a midnight dreary" and the month as "the bleak December," using these descriptors to mirror his emotional turmoil. The dying embers in the fireplace cast "ghosts" upon the floor, symbolizing his attempt to escape grief through reading. Yet, the "silken sad uncertain rustling" of the curtains fills him with terror, hinting at his fragile state of mind. This fear transforms into wonder when he opens the door to darkness, hoping for Lenore's spirit. The arrival of the raven shifts his emotions from curiosity to despair.

The raven's presence exacerbates the narrator's emotional decline. Initially intrigued by the bird, he soon realizes its word "nevermore" echoes his own grief. This repetition drives him to madness, as he laments Lenore's loss. The raven becomes a symbol of eternal loss, reinforcing the speaker's hopelessness. The tone shifts from curiosity to anger and resignation, as the narrator acknowledges he will never escape his sorrow.

"Prophet!" said I, "thing of evil!—prophet still, if bird or devil!
By that Heaven that bends above us—by that God we both adore—
Tell this soul with sorrow laden if, within the distant Aidenn,
It shall clasp a sainted maiden whom the angels name Lenore—
Clasp a rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore."
Quoth the Raven "Nevermore."

The internal conflict within the narrator is a key aspect of the poem. His grief is projected onto the raven, which symbolizes his hopelessness. The narrator's questions to the raven only reinforce his fears of eternal separation from Lenore. This internal struggle highlights the theme of self-torture and despair, culminating in a profound sense of defeat and sorrow. The raven's "nevermore" becomes a grim confirmation of the narrator's worst fears, leaving him in a state of perpetual melancholy.