# Helen — Poetry character guide

> Helen in Poetry by Edgar Allan Poe.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Mrs. Whitman, Mrs. S. Helen Whitman

**First appearance:** 0048-to-helen

## Who they are

A woman whose classical beauty and grace recall the Helen of Troy, drawing the speaker's restless soul toward an idealized, distant shore.

## Relationships

### [Narrator](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_4_se/characters/narrator)

_romantic_

Helen is a classical ideal of beauty and wisdom, whom the narrator venerates as a guiding, almost divine figure.

### [Edgar Allan Poe](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_4_se/characters/edgar_allan_poe)

_romantic_

Poe addresses Helen as an idealized muse, blending admiration with poetic reverence.

### [Young Love](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_4_se/characters/young_love)

_social_

Helen and Young Love are connected as archetypes of classical and youthful romance, often contrasted in theme.

## In the story

### [To Helen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_4_se/chapters/to-helen)

The subject of the poem, whose beauty is likened to ancient ships and classical grandeur.

### [To Helen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_4_se/chapters/to-helen)

The beloved figure whose eyes become a source of beauty, hope, and spiritual purification for the narrator.

### [Endnotes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_4_se/chapters/endnotes)

Mentioned in connection with the poem 'To Helen' (Mrs. S. Helen Whitman), published in 1848, and as a recipient of Poe's poetic addresses.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_4_se/characters/helen
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_4_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_4_se/characters