The poem is a narrative allegory for human suffering and the way suffering destroys well-being, and both inwardly and outwardly causes destruction for a person. An allegory is a piece of writing that expresses a deeper meaning beneath its surface by using symbolism. Through symbolism, Poe effectively shows how a person’s pain manifests through a lack of order and a loss of being grounded in reality. By using the palace as a symbol for a human, Poe narrates a story of developing mental illness and experiencing various aspects of illness after tragic events befall them.

The poem contrasts the previous state of peace when the mind was in control, and describes how the loss of reason produces decay and disruption to the functioning of the person’s body and mind. The title, “The Haunted Palace,” foreshadows the ending of the poem and the transformation from joy and peace to fear and confusion. The concept of “psychological disruption” is captured in the symbolism of hysterical laughter without smiles: A person who no longer feels happiness as their mind has become haunted, controlled by dark thoughts. Poe’s symbolism of mental illness is achieved through the image of “maniacal” but soulless laughter, creating an

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