The Raven

I believe the raven in "The Raven" is supposed to symbolize death, specifically the death of Lenore and the "death" of the narrator's soul due to the loss of Lenore.  I think Lenore is a woman the narrator used to love, and she died.  The narrator desperately wants her back or wants to forget all about her, but without her, he is nothing.  He wants to forget her - "respite and nepenthe from thy memories of Lenore," because without her the narrator's "soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor / Shall be lifted - nevermore!"  The narrator is so devastated by the loss of Lenore that his soul will never be happy again.