Symbol Analysis
"The Shadow" isn't just the name of a superhero movie starring Alec Baldwin, it's also the name of the mysterious symbol of darkness that disconnects causes from effects and completely messes with the natural state of things. The Shadow falls like a curtain between normally connected concepts like "emotion" and "response." It seems to represent the unknown force that leads to a failure of willpower and to the inability to follow through with our intentions.
- Lines 72-90: The falling of the shadow seems to be symbol of spiritual paralysis. The phrase "Falls the Shadow" is a refrain that comes at the end of each stanza.