The title is taken from the parable
of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15). In the lyrics, the
man addresses a Lamia. In ancient
Greece and Rome Lamia were female demons
devoured children. They referred to them
adults in order to intimidate the naughty
children. According to legend, Lamia was
queen of Libya whom Zeus loved. The
the resulting child was stolen by the jealous Hera
and Lamia went mad and swore revenge
on all children.
In Africa, the mythical tribe of Lamia
consisted of creatures with heads and chests
female and reptile body which were trapped
men luring them and them
devoured.
According to the approach of those who
interpret the lyrics of the piece as part
a story that unfolds in five
tracks, this song is the first
part of a five-part story. This is our first contact with him
protagonist, a desperate man he thinks has been taken over by
Satan and seeks the help of a Lamia to escape his influence,
to which he attributes his gradual slippage to "evil." Its structure
Our protagonist's thought leads to the hypothesis of some kind of pathology
governs his psyche. Poe was well versed in the trends at the time
psychology and sketched characters with its very realistic manifestations
each mental illness. Of course, the reader has no idea what he will do
follow, since, knowing the deceptive nature of a Lamia, it is
It is obvious that seeking help from her is not only futile, but also
dangerous.
It also shows the delusion that one has when dealing with mystical things and magic. He loses himself through it. I think the essence of the piece is didactic. So that we do not fall into the trap.